THIRTY-nine companies out of the top 100 listed on Bursa Malaysia have not reached the 30% target of having women on their board of directors.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, during the tabling of Budget 2025, said while the rate of women’s involvement is 32.2%, the government is calling for other companies to meet the target.
Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) acting executive director Nazreen Nizam said while there are some positive aspects of the budget, the initiatives to increase women’s participation in corporate leadership and entrepreneurship are still limited due to significant gender gaps.
“A more inclusive and detailed approach is necessary to ensure that all segments of women in the society are addressed effectively.
“We need to look at women from intersecting identities – single mothers, women from lower income groups, rural women – and recognising these intersections is crucial for creating policies that truly reflect the diverse challenges and barriers faced by women in various circumstances,” she said.
Nazreen also wants a proper implementation of mandatory gender impact statements as this ensures all new policies do not widen gender gaps.
“While I feel that these new policies are aimed at economic developments and poverty reduction, the lack of a more targeted focus are major shortcomings that I believe, require improvement,” she said.
