An open letter to PKR: Allow incumbent women MPs to defend their seats

WE applauded the announcement by DSAI that PKR will field 30% women candidates in GE 15. However as representatives of the various Civil Society Movements mentioned below, we would like to express our deep concern for the recent news report titled ‘Wanita PKR fuming over possible cuts to women candidates in GE15: sources’ published on 20 October 2022 by The Vibes, that has quoted anonymous sources from within PKR saying that the party is cutting down its women candidates, despite its pledge.

The article mentions that incumbents like Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Maria Chin Abdullah, Datin Tan Yee Kew and June Leow Hsiad Hui are among the names rumoured to have a high possibility of being replaced by male candidates.

Kak Wan is a leading figure in Malaysian politics, carrying PKR, the opposition coalition and the reform movement through some of its toughest moments. She is also the first women deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia and the former Minister of Minister of Women, Family and Community Development. Her experience and insight is invaluable and should not be discarded at a crucial time in Malaysian politics. This is not right time for her to leave the political scene as her role in Malaysian politics is unmatched. Kak Wan remains a strong candidate, a symbol of hope and immovable dedication. She continues to have the support of many Malaysians and will be crucial voice as we face the ‘mother of all elections’.

Another name mentioned is Maria Chin Abdullah, a former Bersih chair and a prominent name among gender and human rights activists in Malaysia. As Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya, she has a proven track record and has continued to champion and voice out issues like law and institutional reform, human rights, poverty, gender discrimination and women’s issues; As MP, she has often organised and rallied support from among CSOs for such causes and has provided us with a bridge between MPs and activist during the 14th Parliament.

The Civil Society Movement still requires more activists like Maria at the Dewan Rakyat. The change that we have brought thus far, while important, pale in comparison to the enormous task at hand. The Vibes’ article mentioned also states that new women candidates are being considered for parliamentary seats, but they will be given difficult seats.

There have only ever been 84 women who have made it to the Dewan Rakyat since its establishment in 1959. The last Parliament saw only 14.86% women representation. Women remain underrepresented in politics despite half the Malaysian population being female.

Although the odd exception exists, for many Malaysian women, the system is not built for them, regardless of how hard they work and no matter how much they sacrifice. We do not want their voices to be lost and their determination to be part of the solution, extinguished and forgotten.

There is no doubt of the importance of increasing the number of women representation in Parliament. It is a well recorded fact with many examples from across the globe..

However, while the articles’ contents can be brushed aside as being merely rumours, it is very unsettling and have somewhat dampened our spirit and belief that PKR and Harapan will be leading the charge for greater women representation during this coming election. Such a notion is unacceptable to many of us as gender equality is crucial to the reform agenda.

We would therefore like PKR to consider our appeal to allow incumbent women MPs to continue their work in politics and to pave the way for more women representation in politics.

#Salam Reformasi

This open letter to PKR was signed by 263 PJ Residents, @P105 volunteers, activists, and civil society. Also includes an online petition and a total of 142 people have also signed. https://chng.it/rtf6GbFt

1. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor 2. Dr Suba 3. Zainah Anwar 4. Monsoons Malaysia (MM) 5. Masjaliza Hamzah 6. Ho Yock Lin 7. Sevan Doraisamy 8. Dr Hamidah Marican 9. Jeffrey Phang, veteran community organiser 10. Marina Mahathir 11. Dr. Lyanna Khairuddin 12. Shaila Koshy 13. Ivy Josiah 14. G25 Malaysia 15. Family Frontiers 16. Anne Lasimbang, veteran, woman activist, Sabah 17. Winnie Yee, Gender Justice Advocate, Sabah 18. Prema Devaraj 19. Irene Xavier, veteran activist 20. Manohara Subramaniam 21. Sisters in Islam 22. Fadzilah Abdul Majid, sociologist 23. Suguna Papachan 24. Regina Rahim 25. Ng Geok Chee, lawyer 26. Patricia Nunis 27. Sujatra Jayaraj 28. Ratna Osman 29. Elizabeth Chrisostom 30. Ariv Chelvam, YSEALI 31. Soo Ooi Keng 32. Chan Yen Lian 33. Goh Mun Ting 34. Shazana Yeoh 35. Lina Naamali 36. Laurette Gomez 37. Tanya Tan 38. Catherine Ng 39. Gopalan-K Papachan 40. Haslinah Yacob 41. Wong Peck Ling 42. Chong Sue Hwa 43. Rohini 44. T. Appavu 45. April Chang 46. Christine Edwards 47. Anto 48. Richard Leow 49. Jacob 50. Lydia Ganesan 51. Low Siew Ling 52. Francis Lai 53. Ong I-Ping 54. Chrishanne Sebastiampillai 55. Coral Alfoncea Angelin Pereira 56. Brigid Patricia Thomas Dorai Raj 57. Francis Charles Thomas Dorai Raj 58. Agnes Martina Thomas Loorthanathen 59. Jacqueline Mary Thomas Dorai Raj 60. Patrick Justin Thomas Dorai Raj 61. Teo Paik Choo 62. Wong Wai Ying 63. Ang Hoon Ai 64. Natassya Lee 65. Rachel Nirmala a/p Chrisostom Bastian John 66. Alice Tan 67. Vera Tay Suet Lian 68. Lee Meng Cheng 69. Chan Kim 70. Ng Hon Yeong 71. Maheswari A/P Velayutham 72. Nityavaani a/p Gunasagaran 73. Jothilechumy a/p Arumugam 74. Manjulah a/p Kaliaperumal 75. Mageswari a/p R. Raman 76. Boomadevi Lecthumanan 77. Rajeswari Vadivelan 78. Tamilselve Govindan 79. Balasaraswathy Shanmugam 80. Chin Cheng Cheng 81. Sua Yi Wen 82. Foong Sook Yin 83. Shyamala Ponniah Maha Balasandren 84. Yap Siew Mooi 85. Wong Kim Lan 86. Nik Hussein bin Nik Abdullah 87. Kamaruddin Sulaiman 88. Rahani Binti Mohamed Sharif 89. Siva Mahadeva 90. Woon Yuet Har 91. Hoh Yoon Kai 92. Thong Quai Leng 93. Cynthia Chin Moon Leen 94. Azumin bin Mohamad Yunus 95. Azemi Maria bin Mohamad Yunus 96. Aziman Maria bin Mohamad Yunus 97. Sulaiman bin Hussin 98. Fauziah binti Aris Fathilah 99. Chesu binti Md Jusoh 100. Tan Taik Hoe 101. Tham Yuet Wah 102. Fatimah binti Ungku Salim 103. Jamilah Ariffin 104. Sarinah binti Laangku 105. Chindy Chin 106. Intan Nur Najwa binti Mohd Hussammuddin 107. Mohd Zahairuddin bin MD Zahari 108. Amirudin bin Bahari 109. Jamilah binti Yahya 110. Letchumy a/p Krishnan 111. Sumathi a/p Selvaraj 112. Shamala devi a/p Subramaniam 113. Gokilavany Maniam 114. Ratna Mala a/p Subramaniam 115. Vasuk @vassugy 116. Baskaran a/l Ramloo 117. Nurlela binti Yusuf 118. Sharifah binti Nazri 119. Hafsah Hj Hussin 120. Saiful Nizam bin Rosli 121. Zurriyatina binti Abdul Rani