SELANGOR has introduced an official manual to help all local councils incorporate gender considerations into their programmes, spending decisions and development assessments.
The Gender Responsive Budgeting Manual is intended to guide councils in identifying the differing needs of women, men and vulnerable groups when planning initiatives and allocating public funds.
It was launched during the Gender Outlook Forum at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in Bangi, Selangor.
Selangor women’s development, social welfare and care economy committee chairman Anfaal Saari said the manual would help councils systematically incorporate a gender perspective into the planning, implementation and assessment of development programmes.
She said it would also promote a more targeted approach to use of public resources at the local level.
Gender equality, she said, should be viewed as part of the state’s economic and development agenda.
“In facing economic uncertainty, demographic changes and rapid technological developments such as artificial intelligence, gender equality is not just a matter of social justice, but a driver of productivity and innovation.”
Anfaal said equal opportunities for women to take on leadership and decision-making roles would also strengthen families, broaden the talent pool within organisations and support inclusive economic growth.
The forum followed five roundtable discussions held throughout the year on Islamic family law, economic inequality, digitalisation, the care economy and women’s political participation.
“We should no longer just ask how we can empower women, but how we can redesign systems so they are fair and responsive to the realities faced by women,” she said.
Bandar Tun Razak MP Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail who officiated the forum, said Malaysia had made significant progress in women’s education and health, but gaps remained in workforce and political participation.
Citing the Malaysia Gender Gap Index 2025, she said women’s educational attainment recorded a score of 1.073, with women accounting for more than 56% of enrolment in higher education.
She said women’s life expectancy stood at 77.6 years, while the country recorded a score of 0.962 for health and survival.
Selangor’s overall gender-gap index score of 0.725 was also higher than the national score of 0.708, she added.
“We have the most highly educated women in the country’s history, but we have yet to provide enough opportunities for more women to contribute fully,” said Dr Wan Azizah in her speech.
She said child and elderly care and household responsibilities continued to affect women’s ability to remain in the workforce.
Dr Wan Azizah also called for greater shared responsibility between spouses, along with a stronger care ecosystem and more practical flexible working arrangements.
“State governments and the private sector must view investment in childcare and elderly care centres as an economic investment rather than a welfare cost.”
She added that adequate support systems were needed to ensure families remained strong as more women entered and remained in the workforce.
