TERENGGANU has long struggled with a lack of female representation in its state legislature. For 44 years, from 1974 to 2018, there was no female state legislator.
This changed in 2018 when Terengganu Mentri Besar, Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, used Article 27(2) of the Terengganu state Constitution to appoint Zuraida Mohamad Nor as the first-ever female appointed legislator.
In 2023, Zuraida became Terengganu's first-ever female elected state legislator, marking a significant milestone in the state's political history.
Globally, the importance of female political participation cannot be overstated. According to the United Nations, women currently occupy just 25% of parliamentary seats worldwide. Increasing this proportion is key to achieving gender equality and advancing societal development.
Female representation in politics brings diverse perspectives and ensures policies that are more inclusive of women, children, families, and marginalised groups. At the local level, this representation directly influences community welfare and development. While the appointment of Zuraida is a step forward, Terengganu still faces systemic barriers that limit female participation.
Currently, Article 27(2) of the Terengganu state Constitution restricts the four appointed seats in the state legislature to a non-Muslim quota, with women only able to occupy these seats through this provision. Given that non-Muslim voters make up only 2% of the electorate, the current system limits the ability to achieve gender balance, hindering meaningful female representation.
To address this, the Terengganu state MCA Liaison Committee proposes two key reforms:
1. Make the Four Appointed Seats Permanent
Currently, the four appointed seats are not fixed and can be altered depending on the ruling party's needs. MCA proposes amending the constitution to make these seats permanent, ensuring that the legislature consistently includes diverse representatives, including women, non-Muslims, and other social groups, regardless of political shifts.
2. Reform the Appointment Mechanism for Greater Gender and Diversity Representation
We propose that the four appointed seats be allocated proportionally based on party representation, with at least two seats held by women, one reserved for a non-Muslim representative, and one for a youth representative. This will better reflect Terengganu’s diversity and ensure fairer representation.
3. Supporting the "Projek SAMA" Proposal for Broader Reform
Additionally, the “women-only additional seats” proposal from Projek SAMA and Bait Al Amanah deserves attention. This concept suggests adding dedicated female seats to ensure a consistent proportion of female representation in the state legislature. If the constitutional amendment to make the appointed seats permanent is successful, it will lay the groundwork for implementing this proposal.
In light of this, MCA Terengganu urges the state government to amend Article 27(2) of the Terengganu s7State Constitution, ensuring the four appointed seats become a permanent feature. We also call for the reform of the distribution of appointed seats to guarantee that at least two are held by women, one by a non-Muslim representative, and one by a youth representative, enhancing the fairness and inclusivity of the legislature.
Furthermore, on the recent celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, as well as in conjunction with the 30th Anniversary of Malaysia’s signing of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Cedaw), Wanita MCA has come together and put forward a petition for the government to take concrete action for 10 issues. Among them was to increase women’s participation in politics. We want to reemphasise this point: we urge for the government to introduce affirmative action measures, including quotas, to ensure greater representation of women in leadership and decision-making positions.
All political parties must support this reform, as gender representation should not be a political tool but a matter of fairness. This reform is a crucial step towards a more inclusive and equitable society, and Terengganu MCA will continue to work with all relevant stakeholders to advance Terengganu towards a more diverse and inclusive future.
Datuk Dr Monna Ong
Terengganu State MCA Liaison Committee Chairperson
