DistantNews
Support us
Women won't join PKR if only used as campaigners, says party chief
🇲🇾 Malaysia /Elections & Politics

Women won't join PKR if only used as campaigners, says party chief

From Utusan Malaysia · () Malay

Translated from Malay, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Women will not be motivated to join Malaysia's PKR party if they are only assigned campaign roles, according to the party's women's chief.
  • Fadhlina Sidek stated that women need greater leadership opportunities and involvement in decision-making processes.
  • She emphasized that trusting women to engage with grassroots communities should extend to giving them significant roles within the party.

Women will not be drawn to join Malaysia's Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) if their roles are confined to being campaign workers, asserted Fadhlina Sidek, the chief of PKR's women's wing. She stressed that women require more substantial opportunities for leadership and deeper involvement in the party's decision-making processes.

We cannot convince more women to join Keadilan if we only position women as campaigners. Although, in reality, women excel at campaigning.

— Fadhlina SidekExplaining why women need more than just campaign roles to be motivated to join the party.

"We cannot convince more women to join Keadilan if we only position women as campaigners," Fadhlina stated during her winding-up speech at the PKR Annual National Congress in Melaka. "Although, in reality, women excel at campaigning." She added, "If we trust women to enter the homes of the people, we must also be brave enough to give them larger roles within the party. Provide space for them to lead, give them responsibilities, involve them in decision-making."

If we trust women to enter the homes of the people, we must also be brave enough to give them larger roles within the party. Provide space for them to lead, give them responsibilities, involve them in decision-making.

— Fadhlina SidekAdvocating for greater leadership opportunities for women within PKR.

Fadhlina, who also serves as the Minister of Education, believes that empowering women with greater roles is crucial for convincing the public, particularly women, of PKR's genuine commitment to female leadership. "If we want to convince society, especially women, to choose Keadilan, they must also believe and see that this party truly believes in women's leadership," she remarked.

If we want to convince society, especially women, to choose Keadilan, they must also believe and see that this party truly believes in women's leadership.

— Fadhlina SidekHighlighting the importance of visible female leadership for party credibility.

She urged party leaders to take seriously the need to expand women's roles within PKR, including in leadership positions and policy formulation. Fadhlina drew a parallel to the late Burkina Faso President Thomas Sankara, who championed women's importance in government leadership back in the 1980s. "But that was the 1980s, brothers and sisters. This is 2026! More than 40 years later, we are still debating the role of women in politics," she lamented.

But that was the 1980s, brothers and sisters. This is 2026! More than 40 years later, we are still debating the role of women in politics.

— Fadhlina SidekExpressing frustration over the slow progress in advancing women's roles in politics.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog