Aiman Athirah Sabu, who is also a deputy minister, suggested that the incentive scheme proposal be brought to the Cabinet.

She said the Elections Act and election regulations should be amended immediately to include a provision requiring a minimum of 30% of women candidates. Parties which fail to field 30% of women candidates should be disqualified from taking part in elections, she told FMT.

“When this proposal is legislated, all parties will have to follow accordingly. Parties will not be able to give excuses or play the blame game when they do not field enough women,” said Aiman, who is also head of the Amanah women’s wing.

“I understand it requires a process. However, this must begin immediately, as it has already taken far too long (30 years),” she said.

Asked about the incentive scheme, Aiman proposed that the government provide “grants in monetary form or any suitable incentives” to strengthen the women’s wings of political parties.

“We have a lot of suitable and capable women leaders, but they have not been given the opportunity to be candidates,” she told FMT.

She added that no political party had committed to fielding 30% of women candidates so far, even though some parties already have a 30% quota for women leadership for party positions.

Aiman said the push for 30% women representation had been unsuccessful in the past, but expressed confidence that the proposal would succeed under the unity government led by Anwar Ibrahim.