KUCHING: Sarawak needs a supportive environment and male allies to encourage more Dayak women to stand and win in elections.
The Dayak Woman founder Venessa Sambai Usek said the traditional gender roles and adequate resources as well influence were among the two main challenges for Dayak women to win elections in Malaysia.
“Moreover, we see politicians through certain leadership narratives, and it’s always been male-centric,” she told New Sarawak Tribune.
“If we can challenge the perception of political leadership beyond gender attributes and focus on values such as integrity, empathy and humility, then we might have our first Dayak woman to be elected as a member of parliament in Malaysia,” she said.
She was commenting on the attempt for corporate lawyer Rita Sarimah Insol to create history by becoming the first Dayak woman to be elected as a member of parliament (MP) did not materialize in the last general election in the 14th General Election (GE14) after she failed to win Selangau for Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).
The32-year-old said these values can be nurtured in everyone and more appealing to the rakyat as MP.
Apart from that, she said, it is about time to have Dayak female MPs for visibility and representation in the 15th General Election (GE15).
“We have capable, globally competitive Dayak female leaders in Sarawak and they understand local issues too. We should give them a chance and fully support them,” she said.
