KUALA LUMPUR: The percentage of women on boards of directors for all public listed companies (PLCs) stood at 29.3 per cent as of January 2026.
Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) chairman Datuk Mohammad Faiz Azmi said the SC remains committed to deepening inclusivity and participation in capital market.
"In 2012, a target of 30 per cent women on boards was recommended for large PLCs. This was later extended to include all listed companies.
"The Top 100 PLCs collectively reached this target in 2023 and this year we are on track to achieve the 30 per cent target for all PLCs,” he said on the graduation keynote of investED for Returning Women Programme Graduation today.
He said the topic of the limited talent pool often comes up as a major obstacle to growth and business resilience.
This shrinks even further as experienced and capable women step away from their careers due to family responsibilities and other personal matters.
Hence, Mohammad Faiz said investED for Returning Women Programme was established to ensure that this valuable talent pool is not permanently lost.
"The aim is to provide opportunities for women to reconnect, refresh their skills and adjust to new workplace demands.
"In doing so, we take another step towards building a workforce that is inclusive, adaptable and able to meet industry needs,” he said.
He added that this initiative also aligns with key priorities of the MADANI Economy framework, namely inclusive growth, shared prosperity and the development of human capital.
Since its launch last year, the investED for Returning Women Programme has received strong interest.
After more than 800 applications and three cohorts, 128 female participants have successfully completed this programme. - Bernama
