SHAH ALAM - In a political landscape where women are often relegated to symbolic roles, the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) is pointing to a rare outcome: a 100 per cent success rate for its female candidates in the party’s inaugural polls.
Speaking to Sinar Daily, Muda secretary-general Ainie Haziqah Shafii revealed that although only seven women contested the 25 available Central Executive Committee (CEC) seats, all seven secured victories.
Addressing the relatively low number of female candidates among the 31 total contestants, Ainie said the party prioritised readiness and winnability over optics.
“As this is our first party election, we wanted to ensure that those who stepped forward were truly prepared.
“They cannot be forced or coerced. They must be ready to take on such a significant decision-making role," she said during a Top News Podcast episode.
She contrasted this with common political practice, where women are often fielded in unwinnable seats for the sake of representation, resulting in persistently low success rates.
Muda’s approach, she argued, demonstrates that capable and well-prepared candidates can break that pattern.
“Having all seven women contest and win is not something you see in other political parties. A 100 per cent success rate shows that these are women with the experience and readiness to lead,” she said.
With the polls concluded, the party’s focus is now shifting to sustaining that momentum. Ainie, who campaigned on five key pillars, said her top priority is strengthening internal efforts to empower women.
She noted that while many parties succeed in recruiting women, they often fall short in developing them.
“One thing we tend to overlook is not just bringing women into the party, but nurturing them,” she said. “You cannot place them in an organisation and then fail to provide opportunities — whether it’s leadership exposure or platforms to speak and grow.”
To address this gap, Muda plans to roll out a comprehensive mentor-mentee programme. The initiative will extend beyond the party, involving collaborations with women leaders from civil society organisations and the corporate sector.
The aim is to equip young women with the confidence and skills to take on leadership roles, rather than remain on the sidelines.
“A lot of young women have the passion and interest. But once they’re in, what do you do with them? You don’t just leave them there,” she said. “You nurture them to become the next generation of leaders — the second tier, the third tier. You have to prepare them for that.”