SHAH ALAM, Sept 7 — The involvement of men as allies is crucial to strengthen women’s participation in politics, state executive councillor for women empowerment and social welfare Anfaal Saari said.
Anfaal said male leaders with influence in political parties and democratic institutions must use their positions to drive meaningful change and create greater opportunities for women.
"Male leaders who hold influence in parties and democratic institutions must use their positions to drive real change, including supporting women's leadership, distributing resources equitably, and loudly opposing any form of gender discrimination in politics," she said in a statement today.
Anfaal said women’s political empowerment should go beyond meeting representation quotas, stressing the need for more meaningful opportunities for women to participate and lead in the political arena.
She said this should include fair opportunities to build leadership networks, access financial resources, contest strategic seats and play an effective role in shaping public policy.
“The issue of women’s representation in Malaysia now demands systemic change. While the target of 30 per cent women’s representation remains a key aspiration, the real benchmark lies in the openness of institutions and political leadership to break down structural barriers.
“The challenge today is no longer about the level of women’s readiness, but rather the extent to which party leadership is willing to open the door to candidacy, training opportunities such as mentoring; and funding fairly,” she said.
Anfaal also highlighted that the Selangor Government has made the safety of women in politics a priority that cannot be compromised.
“Threats such as character assassination, intimidation, and online harassment often become barriers for women to survive.
“Therefore, action to eradicate Violence Against Women in Politics (VAWP) must be raised as a core agenda in order to create a safe and healthy political environment,” she added.
Earlier, the Selangor Government, through Wanita Berdaya Selangor (WBS), organised a Round Table Discussion (RTD 5) titled “The Role of Male Allies in Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics and Eliminating Gender-Based Political Violence” here today.
The RTD 5 served as a strategic platform to strengthen women’s political representation, explore inclusive leadership pathways and mobilise support from male leaders for networks, resources and the creation of a discrimination-free political culture.
The session also examined the costs involved in nominations, campaigns and political operations, while exploring a more inclusive, transparent and gender-responsive political financing mechanism.
It also sought to formulate policy recommendations to reduce financial and structural barriers faced by women in politics.
The RTD series is part of preparations for the Gender Outlook Forum (GOF) 2026.