Malaysia exceeds target on women as decision makers: Rosmah

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has exceeded the target of having at least 30% of women at the decision-making level of the public sector.
The prime minister's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor said the country's actual achievement stood at 35.8% at the public sector's decision-making level, while in the corporate sector, Malaysian women had achieved 29.9%.
"Malaysia is the only country that set the target and policies of the minimum percentage of 30% for women's involvement at the decision-making level in the public and corporate sectors," she said in her speech at the opening ceremony of the 48th anniversary of "Wanita", a women's magazine published by Utusan Karya Sdn Bhd (UKSB) here today.
"In the past 10 years, Malaysian women have achieved significant successes, both at national and international levels, whether in economics, education, politics, health science, space science or arts.
"Among them, Malaysia has achieved gender parity in terms of women participation in the labour force that has increased from 47% in 2015 to 52% in 2016," she said.
Also present at the event were Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim; Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nancy Syukri; Utusan Group managing director Datuk Mohd Noordin Abbas; Utusan group editor-in-chief Datuk Abdul Aziz Ishak and executive director/ UKSB Magazine editor-in-chief Ariffin Nordin.
Rosmah said better access to education, employment and entrepreneurship as well as socio-cultural changes that had taken place in society had enabled women to move progressively and have equal opportunities to contribute actively to national development.
In terms of economics, health and education, the Global Gender Gap Report 2016 reported that Malaysia had reached gender parity level almost equal to the developed countries, she added.
"I do admit that it is not easy for women to juggle their roles as wife, mother and career woman while facing the challenges of globalisation," said the prime minister's wife.
At the event, Rosmah received the Women Icon Award in recognition of her services, contributions and excellence in the development of women both at national and international levels. — Bernama