KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Women hopes to see greater female representation in the coming Sarawak election but maintains that candidates should be selected based on merit and their ability to win.
Its chief, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, said women in Sarawak had excelled in many sectors, but political participation remained an area where further progress was needed.
“We would like to see more women involved in politics and more women selected as candidates,” she said after chairing the PBB Women’s Supreme Council Meeting today.
However, she stressed that the final decision on candidate selection rested with Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“We agree with what the Premier has said previously, that candidate selection must be based on merit. What is important is that candidates are credible and winnable because our objective is to secure victory for GPS,” she said.
Fatimah said PBB Women had identified a number of potential women leaders interested in politics, although their suitability also depended on constituency dynamics and local representation.
“Some areas have many potential candidates, while others have fewer. Voters also generally prefer someone from their own area to represent them,” she said.
She added that efforts to increase women’s political representation should involve all Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) component parties rather than PBB alone.
“Representation cannot come from PBB alone. Other component parties must also nominate women candidates. But the principle remains the same – candidates must be credible and winnable,” she said.
Fatimah also called for unity within GPS ahead of the state election, saying a strong and united coalition was essential to securing a bigger mandate from the people.
“We want GPS to obtain an even stronger mandate so the Premier can continue implementing his vision and development agenda for Sarawak,” she said.
