At the gathering in a hotel on the outskirts of the Malaysian capital, there was talk of canvassing “highly persuadable” voters, campaign budgets and media strategies. There was even a stirring speech by a “candidate.” The gathering had all the hallmarks of an election campaign meeting, with a couple of exceptions: all the participants were women, and they were from across the political spectrum, united in their eagerness to learn how to run a successful campaign.

Empower, the nongovernmental organization that organized this and similar workshops, hopes that training women to navigate what remains a largely male-dominated power structure will increase their chances of rising within their parties — and winning elections. But there are plenty of reasons why it thinks Malaysian women need help.

State Minister for Social Development and Consumer Affairs Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun wants Sabah women in the civil service, non-governmental organizations and politics to be given opportunities to attend international conferences. During her visit to the United Nations in February, she observed that Sabah women were practically unrepresented.

Women drivers are “slow” at the wheel and “oblivious” on the roads, a Malaysian ruling party MP told parliament, prompting outrage among women’s groups on Tuesday. It is not the first time Bung has made controversial comments about women. Rights group Tenaganita’s program coordinator Aegile Fernandez said the lawmaker’s latest remarks were “sexist” and “reflective of the kind of backward mentality of some male politicians.”