Zuraida admits PKR does not give adequate room for women to speak out

Despite having woman as the president, Parti Keadilan Rakyat's women chief Zuraida Kamaruddin sees the party does not give adequate room for the women to speak out and be heard.

She said even though women's participation in the party was guaranteed by the party's constitution, so far, it has not reached 30 per cent.

"Women have participated in upholding justice, peaceful assemblies, protest, mobilising demonstrations and so on, however they often received lukewarm response from the party's top leadership.

"Often women did not receive support of the party top leadership, or leaders at the divisional branch and state level, and the central party often made arbitrary decisions without consulting the women first, tarnishing the image of PKR as a party with reformation agenda," she said this in her keynote address at the PKR Women Annual National Congress 2017, here today.

Hence Zuraida, who is the Member of Parliament for Ampang, wanted the party's leadership to provide more opportunities for women to represent the party in the 14th General Election (GE14), in accordance with the party constitution.

"Don't discriminate qualified women by nominating them at less strategic seats," she said.

Speaking to reporters later, Zuraida said she would not defend her post as women chief at the next party election, to make way for younger leaders.

However, Zuraida said her decision had nothing to do with the court case involving PKR Youth chief Datuk Adam Rosly.

- BERNAMA