KUALA LUMPUR: It is timely for Malaysian women to take more active roles in developing the nation.
Council of Malaysian Women Political Leaders (COMWEL) president and founder Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin described women's involvement in policymaking and decision making as a "highly desirable" national policy.
"We need to put women in the mainstream roles for all matters regarding the country's governance, as well as bridging the gender gap in the administration.
"Women play vital roles in the country's development. The 30 per cent allocation of women's involvement can no longer be ignored as we strive to bring the country to a level that we want," she said in a statement today.
Lauding the 20 proposals by Pontian member of Parliament Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, who had been nominated as the Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker on Sept 11, Zuraida hoped that the proposal on parliamentary transformation would also include 30 per cent of women involvement in all policy-making groups, including in the Special Select Committees.
On the Pontian MP's proposal to appoint three deputy speakers, Zuraida, who is also the Ampang MP, hoped it would include appointing one woman either from Sabah, Sarawak or Peninsula Malaysia.
"The Pontian MP has also suggested and encouraged women's participation in the Youth and Graduate programmes, which should adopt a 30 per cent women participation as a requirement."
On the proposal to update the Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders, Zuraida said it was necessary for MPs who issued either sexist and offensive jokes or statements to be penalised including immediate suspension as well as being fined.
The Ampang MP said she would be following today's first meeting of the fourth term of the 14th Parliament sitting from home, as she had been listed as a close contact to a positive Covid-19 case and had been ordered to place herself under self-quarantine at home until Sunday.