Seven women quit PAN candidacies

MEDAN: At least seven of 14 female National Mandate Party (PAN) legislative candidates in North Sumatra have resigned because of their low rankings on party lists.

Three other candidates, currently on a haj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, are likely to follow suit after they return home next month.

The move was in protest against the decision by North Sumatra's PAN board, who ranked the candidates lowly on the party lists, meaning they were unlikely to get elected.

"We are disappointed because we have just become token candidates, even though PAN leader Amien Rais is a figure who struggles for a 30 percent quota for women (as legislators).

"None of us have been given high rankings. It's hypocrisy from the PAN executives in North Sumatra," said candidate Rita Wizni, who chairs the PAN women's forum in the province.

She said the remaining four women's candidates would not resign as local PAN leaders continued to persuade them not to change their minds.

Rita said that, apart from herself, the six others who had tendered their resignations were Nur Rahmah Amini, Mutia Tumoloh, Reni Sembiring, Ade Kaifin Suryani, Kartini Arifin and Yoan Citra Dewi. --Antara