PETALING JAYA: Wanita MCA is backing the call by several women’s groups for Pakatan Harapan to fulfil its promise of ensuring at least 30% female representation in the Cabinet and other decision-making roles.

Its chairman Datuk Heng Seai Kie said as the Prime Minister had announced that there would be 25 ministers in the full Cabinet, there should be at least seven to eight women among them.

“It is disappointing that in the first round of Cabinet ministers announced by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, only three or 12% are women,” she said.

The ministers are Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who also holds the Women and Family Development portfolio, Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin and Rural Development Minister Rina Mohd Harun.

Heng said there was a pledge in the Buku Harapan or Pakatan manifesto to ensure that at least 30% of policy makers will be women.

“Wanita MCA calls upon the new Federal Government to honour this commitment, protect and enhance the political status of women and ultimately, achieve gender equality,” she said.

-The Star-