By Kurniawati Kamarudin
Female voters may well be holding the trump card in the 13th General Election (GE13), as they make up almost half of the 13.3 million eligible voters in the country.
Women have an important role to play with their votes contributing significantly to the total vote count, especially in Penang and Kelantan where they represent more than 50 percent of the voters.
However, do women really have the upper hand in deciding GE13's outcome when they are often considered as being highly emotional and not well versed in politics?
Whether one is aware or not, women display better sense of judgment and more often think rationally than men. Their sensitivity and empathy enables them to evaluate the facts better.
Though men may be more open in thinking and quick in changing their minds, women are more careful and focused.
These are the women's defining attributes and that is why parties contesting in GE13 will not ignore the 'women power' in GE13, says Malaysian Councillor Authority President Assoc Prof Dr Mohamed Fadzil Che Din.
WOMEN'S SIGNIFICANCE IN ELECTIONS
So how are the political parties and their candidates going to win over women?
Hitherto, the contesting parties have been approaching women beyond ensuring their attendance at the election campaigns.
Though more women are coming out to listen to the election campaigns, many more are comfortable within their own spaces, observing and evaluating the developments quietly behind the scene.
Campaigns that take on a personal approach are the ones that can really reach out to women effectively, including home visits or meeting them at locations where they frequent - markets or association activities.
Mohamed Fadzil says in reaching out to women, all contesting parties should go to the ground to put forth their points to the women.
Their points should cover matters relating to the family's well-being, public order, children's education, women's and worker's rights, social issues including home economy which is very relevant to them.
"It is much easier for them to digest these information and make their stand and once they are convinced they will pass the message within their brethren," he says.
Therefore, if there are female fence sitters still not sure on which side to vote, the best person to help them decide are their fellow womenfolk.
"Moreover women do not like aggressive approach. Therefore campaigners or campaign machinery made up of women will be more effective in enticing the womenfolk," he said.
IMPORTANT POINTERS DURING CAMPAIGN
Though various approaches are used to conduct campaigns including the new and the social media to woo voters, yet when speaking of women the conventional approach will prove to be more effective.
This way, campaigners can also meet working women face to face during weekends.
Through casual meetings, campaigners can relate the message and convince women and this is an effective way to get into the women's heart.
Meanwhile, a communication expert Assoc Prof Dr Abdul Muati Ahmad, notes that the effectiveness of the house-to-house campaigns very much depends on the campaigner's approach and the communication skills involved.
This includes the way one speaks, the body language and most importantly, one should never forget the courtesy involved when visiting homes.
Campaigners have to trained with these skills especially the youngsters.
"Many youngsters fail to understand of the courtesy involved when campaigning from house to house. When people ignore them, they get angry, disappointed," said the deputy dean of Universiti Putra Malaysia's Communication Department.
THE CAMPAIGNER'S INFLUENCE
Every action of the campaigners going out to solicit votes has strong influence on the voters as they are the one who represent the party and the candidate's image.
Abdul Muati pointed out that among the things that one should never forget is to introduce themselves with a handshake, and inform people on the purpose of coming there instead of just gate crashing into someone's house.
"They must choose the appropriate time. Avoid noon, as most housewives will be busy preparing lunch for their husband and children. There are many other things to be taken into consideration as well," he says.
At the beginning of a conversation, ask how are they doing to set the tone for the interaction before moving into the campaign and the political ideology.
Those campaigning at the homes of the supporters of the opposing party, have to be more tactful in their work to avoid conflicts and to ensure their target is achieved, he says.
"Courtesy is paramount. If the dwellers in the house prefer the opposing party, ask them why politely, and only then continue with your party's struggle and what your party has to offer than the opposing party.
"This is where the skills to coax and persuade come into play," he says.
WOMEN'S RIGHTS
Abdul Muati reminds campaigners that the house to house campaigns should not be long so as to not distract the household routine.
Most importantly, campaigners should not look down on women, with many of the women, nowadays, being highly educated and well versed on their rights as voters.
And the testimony to this is the fact that women are the earliest to make their way to the polling stations to exercise their rights.
Bernama
Sun Apr 21 2013
Kerajaan kekal komited laksana dwirangkaian 5G, DNB penuhi syarat terdahulu - Gobind
Kerajaan semakin hampir untuk melaksanakan dwirangkaian 5G selepas pengumuman Ahli Lembaga Pengarah baharu Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB).
Kos SUKMA Sarawak dianggar hampir RM300 juta
Kos penganjuran Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) Sarawak tahun ini dianggarkan hampir RM300 juta, antaranya meliputi kerja-kerja menaik taraf venue sukan serta perbelanjaan keperluan logistik.
Break The Siege: Misi flotila ke Gaza belayar esok
Syaff Shukri membawakan perkembangan terkini misi pelayaran Break The Siege: Freedom Flotilla to Gaza yang dijadualkan esok.
#AWANI745
#AWANI745
Peruntukan Pembangkang: Terpulang untuk Muhyiddin kata apa - TPM Fadillah
Terpulang kepada pihak pembangkang untuk mempersoalkan keikhlasan Kerajaan berhubung draf perjanjian persefahaman (MoU) peruntukan pembangkang, kata Timbalan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
Ketua Whip Kerajaan Perpaduan itu berkata, beliau enggan melayani sindiran bekas Perdana Menteri yang juga Pengerusi Perikatan Nasional, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin tentang isu tersebut.
#AWANI745
Ketua Whip Kerajaan Perpaduan itu berkata, beliau enggan melayani sindiran bekas Perdana Menteri yang juga Pengerusi Perikatan Nasional, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin tentang isu tersebut.
#AWANI745
Pelantikan ahli lembaga baharu DNB kemajuan penting dalam penyusunan semula rangkaian 5G - Gobind
Gobind berkata perkembangan terkini itu merupakan satu langkah penting ke arah memenuhi komitmen kerajaan terhadap pelaksanaan dasar 5G dwi rangkaian.
SSPA terbaik pernah diperkenalkan kerajaan - PM Anwar
Kerajaan memberi jaminan Sistem Saraan Perkhidmatan Awam (SSPA) yang bakal diumumkan dalam tempoh terdekat, sebagai antara yang terbaik pernah diperkenalkan, kata Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Namun, katanya lagi, langkah itu bakal membabitkan implikasi kewangan yang tertinggi berbanding yang pernah dilakukan sebelum ini.
#AWANI745
Namun, katanya lagi, langkah itu bakal membabitkan implikasi kewangan yang tertinggi berbanding yang pernah dilakukan sebelum ini.
#AWANI745
KESUMA tawar lebih 3,000 pekerjaan industri hijau dengan gaji RM3,000 hingga RM16,000
Kementerian Sumber Manusia menawarkan lebih 3,000 peluang pekerjaan dalam industri hijau menerusi Karnival Kemahiran dan Kerjaya Hijau KESUMA 2024.
Kanak-kanak maut jatuh kondominium ketika ibu keluar ambil kakak di sekolah
Mangsa dipercayai telah membuka pintu koridor rumah yang tidak berkunci dan memanjat dinding koridor hingga terjatuh ke bawah.
ANCC2024: Astro, NACSA bekerjasama anjur 'coding challenge'
ANCC2024 membuka peluang kepada pelajar daripada institusi awam dan swasta untuk mengambil bahagian dalam mencipta penyelesaian inovatif bagi memerangi ancaman dalam talian.
AWANI Borneo [25/04/2024] - Istiadat ketenteraan | DUN Sabah | Ringankan beban pelajar B40
Laporan berita padat dan ringkas dari Borneo bersama Nickyson Nyambar;
#AWANIBorneo 25 April 2024
Jasad Joanna Felicia selamat disemadi dengan istiadat ketenteraan
Tiga RUU diluluskan pada hari terakhir sidang DUN Sabah
Simpati nasib pelajar B40, Politeknik Tawau lancarkan inisiatif food bank
#AWANIBorneo 25 April 2024
Jasad Joanna Felicia selamat disemadi dengan istiadat ketenteraan
Tiga RUU diluluskan pada hari terakhir sidang DUN Sabah
Simpati nasib pelajar B40, Politeknik Tawau lancarkan inisiatif food bank
Dr Rakyat cabar Nasruddin dan Saifuddin di Indera Mahkota?
Barisan Nasional (BN) Pahang dijangka meletakkan harapan memenangi kerusi panas parlimen P082 Indera Mahkota ditangan Datuk Dr Johan Mat Sah.
Beri peluang Umno terajui BN P. Pinang - Reezal Merican
Barisan Nasional (BN) Pulau Pinang wajar memberi peluang kepada Umno untuk mengetuai barisan kepimpinan parti itu bagi memulihkan kepercayaan rakyat di negeri ini.
PR teruskan perhimpunan bantah keputusan PRU-13
Pakatan Rakyat (PR) meneruskan perhimpunan pasca pilihan raya umum ke-13 (PRU-13)di Stadium Kelana Jaya malam ini.
Bantahan terbuka tidak akan ubah keputusan PRU13 - SPR
Sebarang bantahan terbuka atau perhimpunan tidak mampu mengubah keputusan pilihan raya umum atau mengakibatkan ia diadakan semula, kata Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya.
PM S'pura ucap tahniah kepada Najib atas kemenangan PRU13
Perdana Menteri Singapura Lee Hsien Loong menelefon Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak bagi mengucapkan tahniah atas kemenangannya pada PRU-13.
Mukhriz angkat sumpah MB Kedah hari ini
Barisan Nasional (BN) berjaya merampas kembali Kedah apabila mendapat majoriti mudah pada pilihan raya umum ke-13 (PRU13).
Rakyat Cina tidak hargai jasa saya-- Ali Rustam
Ketua Menteri Melaka Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam menyifatkan kekalahannya di kerusi parlimen Bukit Katil kerana jasanya selama 13 tahun berbakti di Melaka tidak dihargai rakyat.
BN peroleh majoriti 2/3 untuk tubuh kerajaan Sabah
BN) mengekalkan pemerintahan Sabah dengan majoriti dua pertiga apabila menguasai 48 daripada 60 kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) pada Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13.
Kemenangan besar buktikan BN masih relevan di Perlis
Kemenangan besar Barisan Nasional (BN) di Perlis pada PRU-13 semalam membuktikan parti itu masih relevan dan diperlukan rakyat.
BN rampas semula Kedah, gagal di Selangor dan Kelantan
BN berjaya merampas semula Kedah daripada Pakatan Rakyat dalam Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 (PRU-13) namun sekali lagi gagal di Kelantan.