GEORGE TOWN, June 15 — Penang Pakatan Harapan (PH) hopes to field more women candidates in the next state election, although identifying a sufficient number of suitable and willing candidates remains a challenge, said its chairman Chow Kon Yeow.
He said Penang PH remained committed to the target of achieving at least 30 per cent women’s participation in politics and decision-making, but continued to face difficulties finding enough suitable women willing to contest.
“That is certainly our aspiration. In every election, we will field women candidates, but the actual number will depend on whether there are enough suitable and willing candidates.
“While we aspire to have more women candidates, there must first be enough candidates for us to choose from. That is an issue we need to address,” he told reporters after officiating the World Women Economic and Business Summit 2026 here today.
Chow, who is also Penang Chief Minister, said that despite women making significant progress in sectors such as education, business, engineering and public service, their participation in politics continued to face distinct challenges.
Penang PH, he said, had been proactive in supporting the 30 per cent target, but relatively few women were willing to step forward during the candidate selection process due to the pressures and challenges associated with political participation.
Earlier in his officiating speech, Chow said Malaysia’s target of 30 per cent women’s representation in politics, introduced in 2009, had yet to be achieved, with women currently accounting for only 13.5 per cent of Members of Parliament and 12 per cent of state assemblypersons nationwide.
He said the gap called for renewed commitment and concrete action, adding that political parties should consider institutionalising the 30 per cent target in their candidate selection processes.
Chow said political parties should also ensure equal representation of women on decision-making committees and strengthen access to resources and mentoring for emerging women leaders. — Bernama
Date: 15 June, 2026 4:00 pm
Source: Malay Mail
💬 Join the Conversation! 💬
We’ve disabled comments on our posts and pages to keep the discussions organized and lively! But don’t worry – the conversation isn’t over. Head over to our forum and share your thoughts, ideas, and feedback with the community! It’s the perfect place to connect, learn, and engage with others who care about the same things. We can’t wait to hear from you!