Wo Chang Xi. a researcher with the Projek Sama group, said the state constitutions of Terengganu and Sabah provide for appointed members (four in Terengganu and six in Sabah).

States whose constitutions do not provide for appointed members should adopt a “top-up” model providing additional women-only seats, he said.

The “top-up” model, co-developed by the Penang Women’s Development Corporation, calls for supplementary seats to be created for women if fewer than 30% of the elected state assembly were women.

In 2021, Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said the top-up model would be implemented if less than 12 women were elected to the state assembly. However, legislation to implement the initiative was not passed, Wo said.

Placing women in additional women-only seats would help boost the chances of increasing female participation in politics “even though it would not guarantee hitting the 30% target,” Wo told FMT after a forum on Friday.

Ong Bee Leng, chief executive of the Penang Women’s Development Corporation, said the lack of female elected representatives could be attributed to an unconscious bias.

“Women are not incompetent, it is just that they are perceived differently,” she said. Ong said it was an uphill task to propose the “top-up” model to the current state leadership.

Fazar Arif, founder of the Pergerakan Orang Wanita Empowerment and Revolution group, said political will from the ruling government was required to secure more places for women in politics.

“Implementing gender quotas is not just about setting targets. It requires a clear strategy, strong enforcement, and a genuine commitment to change,” Fazar said.