Top 5 at 5: Why Are Women Missing from the Ballot?

Women make up just 13.5% of the Dewan Rakyat, and Malaysia ranks 151 out of 193 countries in the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s report on gender representation. At the state level, Terengganu has the lowest female representation in its legislative assembly. So, what’s stopping more women from entering politics? We break down the structural and cultural barriers—and explore possible solutions like gender quotas, with Chang Xi Wo, Research Analyst at Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

Other stories we covered:

• Spotlight on UTC inefficiencies: A surprise visit by Chief Secretary Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar to Kuantan’s Urban Transformation Centre revealed long wait times and limited service counters at government agencies. The government has pledged to address these issues as part of broader public service reforms.
• Billionaire wealth concentration: Oxfam’s “Takers, Not Makers” report finds that billionaire fortunes grew three times faster in 2024, while global poverty stagnates. Political economist Peter Beattie from the Chinese University of Hong Kong discusses how monopolies, cronyism, and financial extraction from the Global South perpetuate inequality.
• MOUs and equal MP allocations: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim calls on the opposition to engage in discussions over draft MOUs proposing equal allocations for MPs. Muhamad Faisal Abdul Aziz, Chairman of Bersih, weighs in on the political deadlock and key provisions needed for fairer governance.
• DAP leadership battle: With the party’s Central Executive Committee elections coming up, internal tensions rise over whether Lim Guan Eng should step aside for younger leaders. Oh Ei Sun, principal adviser of the Pacific Research Centre, breaks down the power struggle and its political impact.

Image Credit: Zuraida Md Noor Official Facebook

Presenter: Sharaad Kuttan, Dashran Yohan

Producer: Dashran Yohan, Alia Zefri, Sneha Harikannan, Sudais Ferhard

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