The first litmus test for all political parties from both BN and PR is whether they sincerely oppose gender discrimination by endorsing and accepting that a woman is qualified to be a Menteri Besar/Chief Minister of a state, before deciding on whether PKR President Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is suitable for the post as Selangor Menteri Besar.
I wish to restate that all political parties whether PR or BN should state clearly and unequivocally that they support and accept any woman as qualified to hold the post of Menteri Besar or Chief Minister of any state. This follows statements made by political leaders and alluded to by Parliamentary Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that Wan Azizah is not qualified to be Menteri Besar solely because of her gender.
Such views discriminating one based on gender are not only feudal and obsolete but also unconstitutional. Under Article 8 (2) of the Federal Constitution reads: “Except as expressly authorized by this Constitution, there shall be no discrimination against citizens on the ground only of religion, race, descent, place of birth or gender in any law or in the appointment under a public authority or in the administration of any law relating to the acquisition, holding or disposition of property or the establishing or carrying on of any trade, business, profession, vocation or employment.”
DAP views with grave concern that there are still political leaders who can oppose a woman becoming a Menteri Besar because of her gender, when they have no objections to women becoming Ministers or EXCO members or even a doctor. For this reason all political parties must state that they uphold the Malaysian Federal Constitution by endorsing and supporting the right of any Malaysian woman to be Menteri Besar.
This is the first litmus test that must be passed before we discuss the merits and demerits of any female candidate proposed for the Selangor Menteri Besar’s post. Unless this fundamental principle that a woman is qualified to be Menteri Besar is clearly expressed, there is no point arguing on whether Datuk Seri Wan Azizah is suitable or not for the Selangor Menteri Besar’s post.
DAP reaffirms the Federal Constitution position that a woman is qualified to be a Menteri Besar or Chief Minister. A DAP Central Executive Committee(CEC) meeting will be held on 10 August 2014 to discuss the formal and official recommendation by PKR to change the Selangor Menteri Besar with Wan Azizah and the CEC will arrive at a decision solely on her qualifications and not because of her gender.