KPKT Urges Local Authorities To Boldly Adopt GRPB As New Governance Standard

KEPALA BATAS, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) has urged local authorities nationwide to boldly adopt Gender Responsive and Participatory Budgeting (GRPB) according to their local contexts as a new governance standard.

Minister Nga Kor Ming said the ministry is committed to strengthening policies and providing support to expand the implementation of GRPB nationwide.

"KPKT has always maintained that local authorities are the frontline of national governance. This is where the pulse of the people is felt, and where the government is judged on its ability to understand and meet the real needs of our multi-ethnic society.

"We are strengthening the combined approach of 'Gender Responsive' and the integration of GRB (Gender Responsive Budgeting) and PB (Participatory Budgeting) as a national policy tool. This ensures budgets truly meet the people's needs, so that no one is left behind or marginalised," he said in his speech during the 2025 Neksus GRPB National Conference and Applied Workshop here today.

His opening address was delivered via a video conference. Also present were the State Committee for Social Development, Welfare and Non-Islamic Affairs chairperson, Lim Siew Kim, and Mayor of Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Datuk Seri Dr. Mainumah Mohd Sharif.

The conference promotes a combined approach, integrating two complementary budgeting methods to promote a more democratic and inclusive budget planning and decision-making. 

Jointly organised by the Penang Island City Council, Seberang Perai City Council, and Penang Women’s Development Corporation, the conference was attended by all local authorities from across the country.

Nga added that GRPB also embodies the values of Malaysia MADANI—sustainability, care and compassion, respect, and trust—and supports Sustainable Development Goals 5, 10, 11 and 16.

Meanwhile, Lim Siew Kim emphasised that GRPB is not solely about women, but rather about justice, participation, balance and sustainable development. She explained that its principle is simple: to recognise that different groups have different needs.

She said the 2025 Nexus GRPB Conference represents a unifying point for national resolve and will provide fresh inspiration to strengthen inclusive budgeting within each local authority, to ensure no voice is marginalised and no community is left behind.

“May the 2025 GRPB Nexus act as a catalyst for a new wave of fairer, more responsive, and more sustainable governance. This is for a truly inclusive MADANI Malaysia, where what began as a small idea has now grown into a state-level policy practice under the state government’s gender inclusion policy,” she concluded.

-- BERNAMA