And if I may quote from Mr BR's 'Surprises at the MIB Forum' post:
Judge Hayati gave the normal run of the Constitution and how the royalty was part of that Constitution. However, she was able to attract everyone's attention when she talked, or rather she called out (loudly and clearly), that the time is right for women to be included in the Legislative Council and not just the present 29 all-men LegCo. All the ladies present and men too clapped very loudly. The camera was not unfortunately focused onto the main man, I really wanted to see what his reaction was.
I think to not have a woman on the Legislative Council is tantamount to disregarding the views of close to half the population of Brunei Darussalam.
Consider that women represent 46.6% of the work force and hold important positions in both government and private sectors. You see more women involved in NGOs and entering the business arena. We have HRH Princess Masna, who is Ambassador-at-Large for the country. Plus, the life expectancy of women is 77.59 years, outliving men (at 72.57 years) by about 5 years.
Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien at the Legislative Council Meeting 1966
We may not have had a lady on the Legislative Council in 1966, but two years after His Majesty reconvened the Leg Co in September 2004, it is time that we do.
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