The Malaysian Insight

THIRTY-seven female candidates are contesting the upcoming Johor elections on March 12, more than twice the 2013 figure where only 16 women were fielded.

Data from the Election Commission and Undi.info show that women’s participation in Johor seats drastically increased from just 16 candidates in the 13^th general election (GE13) and 19 in 2018 (GE14).

All Action Women’s Society information and communications officer Jernell Tan told The Malaysian Insight that the increase in proportion of female candidates in the Johor elections from 7.9% in 2018 to 15.9% in 2022 highlights progress towards gender parity in political representation.

“Increased women’s political representation can lead to tangible benefits, such as a shift in policy decisions that not only better reflect women’s needs and welfare but also enhance the population’s health and well-being,” Tan said.

“This is because women politicians are more likely to have supportive attitudes towards civil rights and societal welfare issues as well as the advancement of women’s rights in family and  healthcare policies.”

Tan added that with women constituting 50% of the population and actively contributing to all spheres of life, it is only right that policies that are responsive to their needs are in place.

Tan said the four major pillars of female empowerment – education, health, economic and political participation, and political empowerment – have consistently experienced relatively slow progress, both in Malaysia and internationally.

“This reality is characterised by many long-standing barriers that Malaysian women face when contesting for and holding public office,” she said.

Tan said examples of such barriers include societal biases related to women’s leadership capabilities, the toxic patriarchal culture of sexism and harassment, and still-prevalent gender norms stereotyping women’s primary responsibilities as providing unpaid care at home.

She said one also must not forget the patriarchal elements within political parties, which still tend to show a preference for male leaders over female ones.

Despite such barriers, Tan said that Johor has commendably managed to increase the number of female representatives.

“This shows that there is hope and significant potential for us in Malaysia to see greater gender equality in terms of representation for leadership positions in politics.

“We believe that having greater women’s representation at the state level is thus a crucial first step in challenging and breaking down barriers for women who wish to enter politics, and developing more women into capable leaders.”

The data also showed that the winning percentage of women running for the Johor assembly seats has increased from previous elections.

In 2013, eight out of the 16 female candidates who contested, won. In 2018, nine out of 19 candidates were elected.

Barisan Nasional tops the list of fielding the highest number of female candidates with 14, followed by Pakatan Harapan (8), Perikatan Nasional (6), Pejuang (4), PKR (3), and Muda (2).

On Saturday, the EC announced that 239 candidates will contest in the Johor elections. It has set March 12 as polling day while early voting will commence on March 8.

Johor has 56 state constituencies, with more than 2.59 million voters who are eligible to cast their ballots. The EC is targeting a 70% turnout for the upcoming state elections.

Below is a list of women who will be contesting in the Johor elections:

1. Maimunah Safwah Musa (N02 Jementah-PN)
2. Ng Kor Sim (N02 Jementah-PH)
3. Normala Sudirman (N04 Kemelah-PN)
4. Saraswati Nallathamby (N04 Kemelah-BN)
5. Haslinda Salleh (N05 Tenang-BN)
6. Nurafiqah M. Zulkifli (N07 Bukit Kepong-Muda)
7. Elia Nadira (N08 Bukit Pasir-PH)
8. Suraya Sulaiman (N09 Gambir-Pejuang)
9. Khairin-Nisa Ismail (N11 Serom-BN)
10. Gan Q’i Ru (N12 Bentayan-BN)
11. Noor Farah Shamsudin (N15 Maharani-BN)
12. Nor Hayati Bachok (N15 Maharani-PH)
13. Intan Nadira (N16 Sg Balang-Pejuang)
14. Susan Yong Fui Ling (N19 Yong Peng-PN)
15. Shazani A. Hamid (N20 Semarang-PN)
16. Haryati Abu Nasir (N20 Semarang-PKR)
17. Nor Rasidah Ramli (N22 Parit Raja-BN)
18. Gan Peck Cheng (N23 Penggaram-PH)
19. Zalihah Jaafar (N24 Senggarang-Pejuang)
20. Kelly Chye Pei Yee (N28 Mengkibol-BN)
21. Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain (N29 Mahkota-BN)
22. Rohani Banu (N31 Kahang-PH)
23. Alwiyah Talib (N32 Endau-PN)
24. Zulinah A. Johari (N33 Tenggaroh-PKR)
25. Intan Jawahir (N35 Pasir Raja-PN)
26. Rashidah Ismail (N35 Pasir Raja-BN)
27. Norlizah Noh (N37 Johor Lama-BN)
28. Fauziah Misri (N38 Penawar-BN)
29. Norazila Sanip (N38 Penawar-PH)
30. Amira Aisya (N41 Puteri Wangsa-Muda)
31. Liow Cai Tung (N42 Johor Jaya-PH)
32. Chan San San (N42 Johor Jaya-BN)
33. Mahaya Ahad (N43 Permas-Pejuang)
34. Tan Hiang Kee (N46 Perling-BN)
35. Napsiah Khamis Maharan (N47 Kempas-PKR)
36. Marina Ibrahim (N48 Skudai-PH)
37. Hasrunizah Hassan (N54 Pulai Sebatang-BN) – February 28, 2022.