KUALA LUMPUR: The opposition has admitted that it may not meet its target of fielding 30 per cent women candidates in the 14th General Election (GE14).
Zuraida Kamaruddin, who is PKR’s Ampang parliamentary seat incumbent, said this is due to the “lack of female participation in politics.”
But it (female candidates) will be more than in the 13th General Election,” she told a press conference at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya, Friday.
However, she was unable to provide an exact number on the opposition’s women candidates and said she wasn’t sure how many would be contesting.
When pressed why they may not meet the target, she said there was a “lack of participation” from the fairer sex in the arena.
“There is a dearth of women in politics. So we are now grooming them to become effective leaders.”
“The process is ongoing, so God willing, we will meet the 30 per cent target in the future,” said Zuraida.
In December last year Zuraida had said that the pact hoped to field at least 30 per cent of women candidates in GE14. She had said they had a trained of pool women who can be fielded as candidates.
Also present at the press conference was PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Azizah and Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.