PUTRAJAYA: Every local council must ensure that 30 per cent of its members are women, says Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin.
At the moment, she said, the average percentage of female local councillors in the country was 14 per cent.
“Every local council has 24 members. We need at least seven women on board,” she told a press conference today.
“I urge all council presidents and mayors to ensure that the target is met in line with the international standards and the declaration that Malaysia signed to have 30 per cent of women at the decision-making level.”
Zuraida said its implementation would be included in the star rating for local councils.
“Each local council has a different time-frame in appointing its council members. So, I hope local councils whose members’ contracts are expiring will implement (the women appointment).”
Zuraida received contributions totalling RM1.2 million for Tabung Harapan Malaysia from three companies – The Green Ventures Sandalwood Plantation Bhd (RM1 juta), Adenland Group of Companies (RM100,000) and Intergreen Metals Sdn Bhd (RM100,000) at the event.
The ministry’s secretary-general, Datuk Seri Mohammad Mentek, said 111 of the 138 Highland Tower Condominium unit owners had been identified and efforts were being made to get the details of the 27 others because there were plans to re-develop the area.
“If we want to demolish the condominium, we must get the consent of all owners. So, we had asked the Insolvency Department to get the information on the (remaining) owners before June 16,” he said.