12/03/2026

THURSDAY | MAR 12, 2026

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On mission to help give women political voice

Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

AS Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) prepares for its first ever internal party elections this Saturday, its secretary-general Nurainie Haziqah Shafii speaks to theSun about her journey in the party, the challenges women face in politics and her vision for strengthening the party ahead of the next general election. theSun : Can you tell us about your background and your journey in Muda? Ainie Haziqah: I joined Muda in 2022, shortly after the party was officially registered. When I first joined, I served as a member of the Central Executive Committee for about two years. After that, I was briefly appointed as vice-president before becoming secretary-general in March 2025. My entry into the party was somewhat controversial because I had previously been with another political party. But I understood that challenge from the beginning and I chose to persevere and continue doing the work, because ultimately I believe actions speak louder than words. theSun : Politics is still largely dominated by men. How has being a woman in politics shaped your experience? Ainie Haziqah: To be honest, men still dominate politics. But there are many women who actually want to be involved because they have the same aspirations and ambitions to contribute to society. Women often understand certain issues differently because of their experiences, which is why many of them feel strongly about being part of politics. At the same time, women face different expectations. For example, society often expects women to focus on work, marriage and raising children that can sometimes make it harder for women to pursue political careers. theSun : Can you share some of your achievements during your time in Muda? Ainie Haziqah: When I first joined, I led Muda’s Gender and Family Bureau. Even before entering politics, I had been working extensively on women and family-related issues, particularly as a lawyer specialising in family law. During that time, we organised discussions and forums on issues such as period poverty, domestic violence and women’s representation in politics and Parliament. Another milestone was during the six-state elections in 2023, when I served as Muda’s election director. One of the things we were proud of was fielding about 53% women candidates, which I believe was an important step toward improving women’s representation. Later, when I became secretary general, I was responsible for managing Muda’s first-ever party election, which is a significant moment for the party. theSun : As one of the women candidates in Muda’s first internal elections, what challenges have you faced?

internally, particularly at the grassroots level and within the party’s administration. Secondly, I want to establish a support network for women in Muda. This would involve collaborating with experienced women from media, NGOs and other organisations to help mentor and train women within the party. This way, they can gain a broader understanding of politics beyond just party structures. theSun : What message would you like to share with the public? Ainie Haziqah: While the party election is decided by internal delegates, it is important that the public also understands what we stand for. Our aspirations and ideas should not only resonate with party members but also with Malaysians at large. If people want to support Muda, they should know what we are trying to achieve for the country. Ultimately, everything we do is not just for the party but for the future of Malaysia. The elections will see 31 candidates contesting for positions on its central executive committee, with the campaign period scheduled from Feb 28 to March 13. Voting is set to take place on March 14 at the party’s 2025 annual general meeting.

women from participating, even though they have the same passion and capability to contribute. theSun : What inspired you to continue in politics despite these challenges? Ainie Haziqah: Honestly, there are many times when I feel like giving up as politics can be tough, especially for women. But when I think about my children and the younger generation, I feel like we cannot just stop doing the right thing. I also see many young women with potential. If we don’t create space for them now, then when will they get the chance? There are also many communities that feel voiceless. If people like us don’t speak up for them, then who will? theSun : Muda is often perceived as a youth-focused party. How does it engage with senior citizens? Ainie Haziqah: While many people associate the name with youth, the party is open to anyone who shares our principles and values. Our focus is not limited to a particular age group. What matters is whether individuals believe in the democratic values and reform agenda that Muda stands for. theSun : If elected, what will be your first priorities? Ainie Haziqah: My immediate focus would be to strengthen Muda

o I want to establish support network involving experienced individuals from media, NGO and organisations to mentor and train group within party: Muda sec-gen

Ainie Haziqah: One of the key challenges is encouraging more women to step forward as candidates. Often when people contest in party elections, they focus on their own campaigns but I believe we also have a responsibility to encourage more women to participate. I personally spoke to several women within the party and encouraged them to contest because I could see their potential and the work they had done at different levels within Muda. While Muda has made progress, I believe we can do more. One of my proposals is to introduce a mentor mentee system to encourage more women to participate in politics and to help them navigate the challenges of political life. theSun : How do you see women shaping Malaysia’s political landscape? Ainie Haziqah: Women make up nearly half of Malaysia’s population, around 47% to 49%. Given that, we should ideally see equal

representation in decision-making positions. However, women’s representation in politics has not even reached 30%, and in some parties it is below 20% showing that there is still a long way to go. So the challenge is not just bringing women into political parties, but also giving them opportunities to grow and lead. Senior women leaders also play a role in mentoring younger women and bringing them into leadership roles. theSun : What discourages women from entering politics? Ainie Haziqah: A lot of it comes down to societal expectations, women are often judged differently from men in politics. For example, when a young woman speaks publicly on an issue, people might question whether she is married or whether she has children, as if that determines her ability to speak on certain issues. These kinds of comments rarely happen to men. Such expectations can discourage

Nurainie Haziqah said Muda is not limited to a particular age group as long as individuals believe in democratic values and reform agenda that the party stands for. – COURTESY PIC