KOTA SAMARAHAN, April 12: National Barisan Nasional (BN) Women Chief Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil called on Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) to appoint more women as Parliamentary candidates so that if they win, they will not only have more representation for the state in the Dewan Negara but also have stronger Sarawak women representation.
Speaking during the launching of the Sarawak BN Women Machinery for the general election (GE14) at Kota Samarahan Civic Centre this afternoon, she said at the moment, Sarawak has been very kind to the women elected representatives, as two of the country’s federal ministers are Sarawakian women — Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Dato Sri Nancy Shukri and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim.
“I congratulate the Sarawak government for having two of its women (Nancy and Rohani) as ministers in the federal goverment representing Sarawak. This has bring about a good name for Sarawak in the Peninsula.
“Also, urge (Sarawak BN chairman and Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi) Abang Johari (Tun Openg) to nominate more women in the coming GE14. Who knows, if they win, Sarawak will have more women to represent the state in the federal government,” said Shahrizat.
Meanwhile, Abang Johari gave assurance that more women would be picked for roles in the state’s administration and decision-making.
He also urged the federal government through Shahrizat to maintain Nancy and Rohani in the federal cabinet after GE14, and if possible appoint more if Sarawak BN manages to win big in GE14.
“Not only Nancy and Rohani, we also have Assistant Minister for Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali who has done so much in our agenda to pursue our rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“Sharifah led a team of lawyers to London to get more data on MA63. And our initiatives now are all thanks to her and her team,” said Abang Johari.
He also gave assurance that the other wings in the state BN including the Youth and Bapa will work closely with the Women as equals, a team and a family.
He said as women play an important part in a family unit, the same goes for BN.
“A happy family must not be fragmented. So the women play a major part in keeping the family together.
“A non-fragmented family is a happy family. A happy family is a community. Likewise a happy Sarawak,” said Abang Johari. — DayakDaily
