Anwar: Harapan undecided on Wan Azizah GE15 seat

Anwar: Harapan undecided on Wan Azizah GE15 seat


Pakatan Harapan chairperson Anwar Ibrahim has clarified that it remains undecided whether former PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail would defend her parliamentary seat in Pandan.

Anwar told reporters today that Harapan has yet to decide which seat Wan Azizah may contest in the incoming general election.

"There are requests from the women's division (on her candidacy) and we will consider them, but we have yet to decide.

"I'm also not sure if (she) will be contesting or not, and where," said Anwar at the Harapan Women's GE15 Iltizam and Machinery Launch Ceremony in Shah Alam today.

He also said that the coalition is set to focus on 30 percent of women's representation in GE15.

Further, he said the women's wing forms one of the coalition's pillars of strength.

"This is our stance in the (Harapan) presidential council, that in our candidate selection, we need to ensure there is 30 percent representation.

"There are also polemics asking why not 40 percent or 50 percent, but for us, if we achieve 30 percent, it's a convincing start," he said.

He further stressed that 30 percent representation was a particular request given by the Harapan women’s wing that must not be neglected, due to their wing’s vital role within the coalition.

Importance of 30pct representation

Today’s women’s wing event in Shah Alam saw more than 1,500 representatives coming nationwide.

DAP Women’s chief Chong Eng, who gave a speech at the event today, spoke of the importance of having 30 percent representation in politics.

However, she said that while some have said that pushing 50 percent representation may be a better move, there are individuals such as former international trade and industries minister Rafidah Aziz who disparaged ‘glass ceilings’.

“Rafidah, of course, won’t agree. (She would say) Where is the glass ceiling? She comes from a privileged background. She does not understand the Orang Asli, those living in rural villages, and those who suffer economically in the inner city.

“The educational opportunities are not the same. She thinks that if she can do it, everyone else can,” she said.