Representation of women in the Malaysian parliament, 1999-2007

Abstract

This study analyses the descriptive and substantive representation of women in the Malaysian parliament. However its focus is on the substantive representation of women in the 10th and 11th Dewan Rakyat, the lower house of the Malaysian Parliament. It aims, in particular, to see whether or not the women MPs act for women by proposing women related issues in the Dewan Rakyat. What issues they proposed and who among them are at the forefront in representing the women? These women MPs are called the critical actors. Content analysis of the parliamentary debates was conducted to identify what women issues the women MPs had proposed and to identify who among them were at the forefront of doing it. Series of face to face interviews were conducted with critical actors to examine what made them the critical actors. Factors contributing them to represent the women and the problems they faced were examined. All of these are important insights to explore and understand the substantive representation of women in the Malaysian parliament. The study found that the women MPs represented the women in the 10th and 11th Dewan Rakyat and proposed various issues relating to education, children, health and welfare and the feminist concerns. These issues directly impacted the women. The study also found that not all the women MPs were critical in representing the women. Thirteen out of twenty-nine women MPs were found to represent women but seven were more active in doing so. Experience, gender awareness and roles as a woman were factors that contributed to their representing women in the parliament. Information and networking appeared to be crucial in facilitating them to represent the women.