KUALA LUMPUR: Wanita Umno wants women's quota of 30 per cent of positions in the party's supreme council as well as at branch and divisional committees.
Its head, Senator Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, said yesterday that this was among the suggestions which would be submitted to Umno's constitution amendment committee.
The committee is chaired by Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who is an Umno vice-president.
Shahrizat said they would submit the list of proposals within the next few days and hoped the committee and the supreme council would give it due consideration.
"Our intention is to ensure that women can play a more important role in decision making," she added after chairing the Wanita Umno executive council meeting at the party headquarters, Putra World Trade Centre.
Shahrizat, who is also the Women, Family and Community Development Minister, said the request was justified as women made up 1.35 million of Umno's 3.47 million members.
"The survival of Umno has long been dependent on the women's wing, which has served as the party's pillar of strength.
"Thus, women members must be given a larger platform as part of the party's decision-makers.
"This would also give the women an advantage in championing issues on women's rights."
She said that having women in crucial posts was a norm in foreign countries, where some even have policies to reserve a fixed percentage of women members in parliament to ensure gender equality.
She also said Wanita Umno wanted more women delegates at divisional meetings and the annual general assembly.
"If these suggestions are accepted, it will open a new chapter in Wanita Umno's history and that of the party.
"Who knows, one day a woman might also be appointed to senior positions in Umno like the secretary, treasurer, information head or as state liaison committee chairmen."
Other suggestions to be submitted will include Wanita Umno's views on the party's election process including that for the posts of president and deputy president.
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