Wan Azizah: Battle is for women

Wan Azizah: Battle is for women

BANGKOK (AFP): The wife of Malaysia's jailed former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim said on Friday she hoped her struggle with the government would inspire more Asian women to enter mainstream politics.

"I have to fight, not as a personal battle only, but for many of the downtrodden women," said Azizah Ismail, leader of the opposition National Justice Party at a seminar of women parliamentarians here. She spoke at the Asia-Pacific Women Parliamentarians' Conference here on Friday.

Calling herself an "accidental politician" who "had to learn the ropes of the rough and rugged world of politics overnight," Azizah related how she stumbled into politics and talked of her battle with the government.

She accused the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad of using numerous methods to keep women out of politics. Mahathir always "uses the fact that I'm a woman and (my) inexperience against me," she said.