WE applauded the announcement by DSAI that PKR will field 30% women candidates in GE 15. However as representatives of the various Civil Society Movements mentioned below, we would like to express our deep concern for the recent news report titled ‘Wanita PKR fuming over possible cuts to women candidates in GE15: sources’ published on 20 October 2022 by The Vibes, that has quoted anonymous sources from within PKR saying that the party is cutting down its women candidates, despite its pledge.    

The article mentions that incumbents like Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Maria Chin Abdullah, Datin Tan Yee Kew and June Leow Hsiad Hui are among the names rumoured to have a high possibility of being replaced by male candidates.   

Kak Wan is a leading figure in Malaysian politics, carrying PKR, the opposition coalition and the reform movement through some of its toughest moments. She is also the first women deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia and the former Minister of Minister of Women, Family and Community Development. Her experience and insight is invaluable and should not be discarded at a crucial time in Malaysian politics.   This is not right time for her to leave the political scene as her role in Malaysian politics is unmatched. Kak Wan remains a strong candidate, a symbol of hope and immovable dedication. She continues to have the support of many Malaysians and will be crucial voice as we face the ‘mother of all elections’.   

Another name mentioned is Maria Chin Abdullah, a former Bersih chair and a prominent name among gender and human rights activists in Malaysia.  As Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya, she has a proven track record and has continued to champion and voice out issues like law and institutional reform, human rights, poverty, gender discrimination and women’s issues; As MP, she has often organised and rallied support from among CSOs for such causes and has provided us with a bridge between MPs and activist during the 14th Parliament.   

The Civil Society Movement still requires more activists like Maria at the Dewan Rakyat. The change that we have brought thus far, while important, pale in comparison to the enormous task at hand.   The Vibes’ article mentioned also states that new women candidates are being considered for parliamentary seats, but they will be given difficult seats.  

There have only ever been 84 women who have made it to the Dewan Rakyat since its establishment in 1959. The last Parliament saw only 14.86% women representation. Women remain underrepresented in politics despite half the Malaysian population being female.  

Although the odd exception exists, for many Malaysian women, the system is not built for them, regardless of how hard they work and no matter how much they sacrifice. We do not want their voices to be lost and their determination to be part of the solution, extinguished and forgotten.

There is no doubt of the importance of increasing the number of women representation in Parliament. It is a well recorded fact with many examples from across the globe..   

However, while the articles’ contents can be brushed aside as being merely rumours, it is very unsettling and have somewhat dampened our spirit and belief that PKR and Harapan will be leading the charge for greater women representation during this coming election. Such a notion is unacceptable to many of us as gender equality is crucial to the reform agenda.  

We would therefore like PKR to consider our appeal to allow incumbent women MPs to continue their work in politics and to pave the way for more women representation in politics.  

#Salam Reformasi


This open letter to PKR was signed by 263 PJ Residents, @P105 volunteers, activists, and civil society. Also includes an online petition and a total of 142 people have also signed. https://chng.it/rtf6GbFt

1. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor
2. Dr Suba
3. Zainah Anwar 
4. Monsoons  Malaysia (MM)
5. Masjaliza Hamzah
6. Ho Yock Lin
7. Sevan Doraisamy
8. Dr Hamidah Marican
9. Jeffrey Phang, veteran community organiser
10. Marina Mahathir
11. Dr. Lyanna Khairuddin
12. Shaila Koshy
13. Ivy Josiah
14. G25 Malaysia
15. Family Frontiers
16. Anne Lasimbang, veteran, woman activist, Sabah
17. Winnie Yee, Gender Justice Advocate, Sabah
18. Prema Devaraj
19. Irene Xavier, veteran activist
20. Manohara Subramaniam
21. Sisters in Islam
22. Fadzilah Abdul Majid, sociologist
23. Suguna Papachan
24. Regina Rahim
25. Ng Geok Chee, lawyer
26. Patricia Nunis
27. Sujatra Jayaraj
28. Ratna Osman
29. Elizabeth Chrisostom
30. Ariv Chelvam, YSEALI
31. Soo Ooi Keng
32. Chan Yen Lian
33. Goh Mun Ting 34. Shazana Yeoh
35. Lina Naamali
36. Laurette Gomez
37. Tanya Tan 
38. Catherine  Ng
39. Gopalan-K Papachan                     
40. Haslinah Yacob
41. Wong Peck Ling
42. Chong Sue Hwa
43. Rohini 44. T. Appavu
45. April Chang
46. Christine Edwards
47. Anto
48. Richard Leow
49. Jacob
50. Lydia Ganesan
51. Low Siew Ling
52. Francis Lai
53. Ong I-Ping
54. Chrishanne Sebastiampillai
55. Coral Alfoncea Angelin Pereira
56. Brigid Patricia Thomas Dorai Raj
57. Francis Charles Thomas Dorai Raj
58. Agnes Martina Thomas Loorthanathen
59. Jacqueline Mary Thomas Dorai Raj
60. Patrick  Justin Thomas Dorai Raj
61. Teo Paik Choo
62.  Wong Wai Ying
63. Ang Hoon Ai
64. Natassya Lee
65. Rachel Nirmala a/p Chrisostom Bastian John
66. Alice Tan
67. Vera Tay Suet Lian
68. Lee Meng Cheng
69. Chan Kim
70. Ng Hon Yeong
71. Maheswari A/P Velayutham
72. Nityavaani a/p Gunasagaran
73. Jothilechumy a/p Arumugam
74. Manjulah a/p Kaliaperumal
75. Mageswari a/p R. Raman
76. Boomadevi Lecthumanan
77. Rajeswari Vadivelan
78. Tamilselve Govindan
79. Balasaraswathy Shanmugam
80. Chin Cheng Cheng
81. Sua Yi Wen
82. Foong Sook Yin
83. Shyamala Ponniah Maha Balasandren
84. Yap Siew Mooi 85. Wong Kim Lan
86. Nik Hussein bin Nik Abdullah
87. Kamaruddin Sulaiman
88. Rahani Binti Mohamed Sharif
89. Siva Mahadeva
90. Woon Yuet Har
91. Hoh Yoon Kai
92. Thong Quai Leng
93. Cynthia Chin Moon Leen
94. Azumin bin Mohamad Yunus
95. Azemi Maria bin Mohamad Yunus
96. Aziman Maria bin Mohamad Yunus
97. Sulaiman bin Hussin
98. Fauziah binti Aris Fathilah
99. Chesu binti Md Jusoh
100. Tan Taik Hoe
101. Tham Yuet Wah
102. Fatimah binti Ungku Salim
103. Jamilah Ariffin
104. Sarinah binti Laangku
105. Chindy Chin
106. Intan Nur Najwa binti Mohd Hussammuddin
107. Mohd Zahairuddin bin MD Zahari
108. Amirudin bin Bahari
109. Jamilah binti Yahya
110. Letchumy a/p Krishnan
111. Sumathi a/p Selvaraj
112. Shamala devi a/p Subramaniam
113. Gokilavany Maniam
114. Ratna Mala a/p Subramaniam
115. Vasuk @vassugy
116. Baskaran a/l Ramloo
117. Nurlela binti Yusuf
118. Sharifah binti Nazri
119. Hafsah Hj Hussin
120. Saiful Nizam bin Rosli
121. Zurriyatina binti Abdul Rani