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Islamic Party Placing Women At Forefront
KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 (IslamOnline) - The Party Islam Se Malaysia (PAS) of Malaysia is gearing up for a larger share of women's vote in the next general elections, and last weekend, the party signaled its intention to place more women at the forefront of its battle.
Sources close to the PAS told IslamOnline that the party had no problem in having women candidates in the 2004 general elections, something taboo a few years back.
Women in government controlled, and National Front (NF) dominated, areas have a particular aversion to the PAS, considered overtly too Islamic in its ideals, and giving the impression of "Taliban" type controls and restrictions in the minds of both Muslim and non-Muslim women.
In order to polish up the image and grab a fair percentage of support from women, the PAS has scrapped its "no-women" candidate policy.
"Women folks are poised for bigger role in the PAS. The party has practically ratified the call by the Women's wing [Dewan Muslimat] to field candidates in general elections," a member of the PAS said.
Observers reached on the phone in Kuala Lumpur said the decision of the PAS to give prominence to women within the party was a positive move.
They said it would certainly cause great concern to the NF, and certainly the United Malays National Organization (UMNO). The ruling Malay party has been active in promoting women's role in politics and has established a new women's wing called the Puteri UMNO (UMNO Women's Youth Wing).
Several observers, including those considered pro-UMNO, said they believe that placing women at the political forefront within the PAS was in response to the Puteri UMNO formation.
The PAS will announce the change in policy during its June General Assembly, also called the Muktamar Pas, which will also coincide with the official launch of the Puteri UMNO.
Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, a staunch supporter of the new youth wing, will launch the Puteri UMNO. The party's leadership is banking upon the new wing, hoping that it will bring in new members and grab a larger share of the vote from young women in 2004.
In Kuala Lumpur, most political pundits are inclined to agree that a large number of new voters in Malaysia are not prone to accept the UMNO and the NF.
"The younger generation is more volatile. They need heroes; they need models of morality and integrity. The UMNO offers old faces and forces the youth to believe in the old guard and its out dated vision," says Abdul Majeed, a student at the University Kebangsaan Malaysia.
He said the coincidence of the PAS policy change and the UMNO's launch of the new women's wing was an indication of the importance of the women's vote in Malaysia.
"Malaysia has 52% of women folks for a population of over 25 million.
"The future government of Malaysia may well be the one that woos the more female votes," Majeed added.
The PAS, however, downplays the role of the Puteri UMNO, arguing that the ruling party is having difficulties in recruiting new elements, particularly in Kuala Lumpur-based universities.
One prospective female candidate for the PAS is Senator Jamilah Ibrahim, current women's chief of the PAS. She says the Puteri UMNO is not a threat to the PAS.
In a bid to garner support for the new women's wing, the UMNO has engaged movie star and singer Erra Fazira as a member. The UMNO has also decided to seek the membership of female students within universities throughout Malaysia.
In response, the PAS has also established registration counters at certain universities.
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