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Gender-based quota system

By admin ⋅ July 10, 2009 ⋅

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Letter to the Editor
July 10, 2009

Hafiz Noor Shams broaches an important but complex topic when he addresses the merits of a gender-based quota system. While we commend his call for the empowerment of women we regret his vagueness over it, neglecting to give any concrete positive suggestions. Meanwhile, Hafiz recommends against a quota system for women because, he thinks, such quotas undermine meritocracy, prevent the best talent from rising, and that racial/ethnic quotas have been damaging to Malaysia.

WCI is of the view, however, that a gender-based quota system can help ensure that effective mechanisms are in place to support and encourage women’s role in politics. WCI regards the current systems and structures through which politicians are unearthed and promoted as often /undermining/ the meritocratic advancement of certain groups including women. From the excessive election deposits, to party nomination mechanisms and cultures, to the very nature of Malaysia’s electoral system (which in effect, hampers independent candidates and special interest parties), women’s participation in politics is hindered. A quota system would force parties to address those aspects of Malaysian politics which has for too long barred many talented women from surfacing, hindered women representing the rakyat in closer proportions to Malaysia’s demographics, and provided too few women role-models to inspire younger women and girls to entering politics. This is why when quota systems are implemented to overcome the effects of past and current practices of discrimination, they are considered affirmative actions and temporary special measures.

The comparison with racial/ethnic quota systems is a spurious one as it assumes that the problem is with quotas per se and not the abuse in implementation and exploitation of them. Scholars around the world are practically unanimous in advocating for quotas for the representation of under-privileged groups and thus it is less the quota per se, but the manner and duration of its execution which is to be questioned and which is rightly questioned in the Malaysian context.

Gender quotas are an important step in redressing the marginalized place of women in politics in Malaysia and the circumstances and structures that enable it.

Julian C. H. Lee
Women’s Candidacy Initiatives (WCI)