SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) will work to have more women candidates in the next general election.

He made these comments at the 20th anniversary celebrations of the PAP Women's Wing (WW) on Saturday.

It was a rousing celebration of how far women had come in politics.

There were no women in politics from 1970 to 1984 and today, there are 17 elected women MPs.

But Prime Minister Lee said more has to be done.

PM Lee said: “They play key roles in business, in government and in the professions. And I think in politics too, we will work very hard to have more women candidates the next time round.

“But even today, if I speak frankly, it is still harder for a woman than for a man to become an MP, to enter politics. And for the old reasons, less now, but still the family puts more burden on the women than on the men.

“Work is heavy burden for the women too. And plus their political responsibilities to make that rapport with your grassroots, with your voters.”

Still, it seems female parliamentarians have managed to balance their different roles.

Lim Hwee Hua, Singapore's first full-fledged woman minister and Chairman, PAP Women's Wing, said: “35 - Now this is a piece of trivia, this is the number of children we women MPs have collectively produced for those of us who have children. So we do our bit towards population growth too.”

On average, women make up only about 18 per cent of parliamentarians worldwide. Even in the Nordic countries known for gender equality, women make up only about 40-plus per cent of parliamentarians. In Singapore, this figure is currently 20 per cent.

And the trailblazers include Dr Aline Wong, who was one of the first women office holders and Dr Seet Ai Mee, the first woman appointed to Cabinet.

Dr Dixie Tan, also among the first women in parliament was also honoured at the anniversary celebrations though she wasn't present as she was out of the country.

So with the aim to increase participation by women in politics, should the PAP Women's Wing or WW be a more dominant force?

Indranee Rajah, Parliamentary Deputy Speaker & Organising Chairman of PAP WW20 Celebrations, said: “WW was never intended to match the main PAP in its dominance and impact. WW is the women's arm of the main party. If you think about it, we're an arm like any other body. If the arm is not there, the main body cannot operate at full strength and capacity.

Prime Minister Lee said the Women's Wing has to continue to support women to take interest in politics for many years to come. -CNA/vm