Govt watching seven PLCs with no women directors

KUALA LUMPUR: Just seven. That’s how many of the top 100 listed companies in Malaysia do not have any women on their board of directors.

“Last year, I announced that companies with no women on their boards will be publicly named.

“So to these seven, I have this to say – we are watching you!” said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The Prime Minister said in 2016, there were 20 out of the top 100 listed companies with no women in the top echelon.

“So it gives me pleasure to be able to tell you that the number has been reduced to just seven by the end of last year.

“That’s progress. But that’s still too many,” he said during the launching of Invest Malaysia 2018 yesterday.

Najib said that by the end of last year, women accounted for 19.2% of directors in the top 100 public listed companies (PLCs), against only 16.6% in 2016.

He said the Government aimed for at least 30% of boards in PLCs to be made up of women by 2020.

“Commendably, 15 of the top 100 PLCs such as Petronas Gas, Sime Darby Property, AMMB, Top Glove and Gamuda exceeded the 30% quota,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the 2011 national policy target of at least 30% of decision-making roles to be held by women had been met, both among the civil service and the top management of listed companies.

“This year has been designated as Empowering Women Year and the Government is taking this very seriously.

“We have always recognised not only the contributions of women in the workplace and at home, but the role of women in leadership as well.

“Malaysia’s largest public listed company, Maybank, has a female chairman.

“Prasarana, our biggest public transport service operator, has a female CEO,” he said.

Last year, the Prime Minister warned that PLCs without any women on their boards will be named and shamed in a list to be published by the Government.

He said these companies might also not be given any government contracts.