Empowering women will continue to be a top national agenda

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 -The Perikatan Nasional (PN) government has always upheld the principle of women’s empowerment and will ensure that it continues to be an important national agenda, said Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Prime Minister said women were one of the most important pillars of national development not only for the social, political, and economic aspects but in all aspects.

“The findings of a study show that a 30 percent increase in the participation of women in the Malaysian labor market can increase the country’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) between seven and 12 percent per year,” he said in a pre-recorded message in conjunction with International Women’s Day 2021 that was broadcast on local television stations today.

The prime minister is currently on a four-day official visit to Saudi Arabia.

He said that although success after success has been achieved, the task of empowering women needed to be streamlined as they were still plagued by various issues including stigmatisation and stereotyping that limited their role in certain areas as they are often linked to traditional roles, especially in care and nurturing.

“Their tendency to become victims of domestic violence and sexual harassment in the workplace. Issues like child abuse, “sugar daddies” and incest also worries us because women also become victims, “he said.

The Prime Minister also said that the involvement of women as decision makers in various fields was still not being given full attention.

“For example, I understand that there are still government-linked companies (GLCs) and government -linked investment companies (GLICs) that do not yet have women as Board Members,” he said.

Muhyiddin said that as of October 2020, only 25.4 per cent of the top 100 companies listed on Bursa Malaysia had committed to filling at least 30 per cent female Board Members.

In addition, he said many working women faced the issue of a double burden where they had to balance between the demands of work and household management at one time.

Based on the findings of a study, he said, it was found that women spend 63.6 per cent more time compared to men in unpaid care work.

— BERNAMA