KUALA LUMPUR, October 22 2026— Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) has hinted that more women may be fielded as candidates in the upcoming 13th Sarawak State Election, with the party expected to introduce several new faces.
PBB Women’s Wing vice-president Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said she had been informed by the party’s information chief, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Hamzah, that around 10 per cent of the candidates would be new faces, including women.
Nancy, who is also the Women, Family and Community Development Minister, expressed hope that more women would be given the opportunity to contest in the state election.
She made the remarks after recording the Ruang Bicara programme produced by Bernama TV at Wisma Bernama.
Earlier, on Oct 6, PBB Women’s Wing chief Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah also called for greater female representation among the party’s candidates.
However, Fatimah stressed that candidate selection rests with Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, who leads Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS). The selection process would take into account candidates’ capabilities, merit and electability.
Women currently hold only five of the 82 seats in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, highlighting the limited female representation in the state legislature.
-BERNAMA
