By: Rosaline Neging, Deputy Women Chief of PRS
Women's representation in Sarawak political scene is under represented (far from the 30 percent target set by the federal and state governments). In the state assembly, only 6 percent are women whereas for parliamentarians, women make only 16 per cent of the total number (statement by Datuk Nancy Shukri: extracted from The Borneo Post, 16/11/2016).
PRS should emulate PBB's stance in continuing the tradition of filling in women's candidates in their allocated seats. It is high time for PRS to fill a woman's candidate in the coming election.
Women in PRS should be given be opportunities to contest either in state assembly or parliamentarian election. Should they win the election, that should be the right avenue to spread their wings to show off their capabilities and to serve the community in general while working hand in hand with men.
Gender equality is a very much current subject that society should be aware of because this is one of the principles that we and our children will continue to live on. But why is it, when any related statements on this subject are released, they only invite negative responses instead of positive ones? Are our men not ready to share their seats with women, are they not confident of our capabilities or are they afraid of women being in the limelight? For whatever reasons, gender equality seems to be a sensitive subject for some men.
Given the right platform, women are competent in handling matters like domestical issues, reaching out to women, children and society in general.
Men should be more willing to make way for women to prove themselves and be more welcoming to the idea of gender equality.
The key issues here are positive collaboration and teamwork instead of bashing one another could be the right combination in order to serve the society for the common good. Women's representation would create chances that will trigger positive impacts on our generation. One day when our children look back, they will reminisce on their role models who are both men and women.
