SUBANG, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- Wanita Berdaya Selangor (WBS) handed a ‘Call to Action’ document focused on tackling cultural and structural obstacles blocking women’s full participation in politics, leadership and economic fields in Malaysia and the ASEAN region.
Women’s Development and Social Welfare Committee chairman Anfaal Saari said the call was vital as gender index analysis indicated a wide gap, especially in economic and political fields.
“In Selangor only, women’s participation in politics is only 16 per cent, nine out of 56 seats. The number is still at an unsatisfactory level,” she said at a media conference after closing the Gender Outlook Forum 2025 here today.
She said the lack of women’s involvement in politics affected the level of concern and sensitivity towards special needs groups.
“The voice of women in leadership is important as many changes from the legal aspect require empathy and sensitivity. When they are chosen as representatives, they bring representation for marginalised groups such as children, people with disabilities and the elderly in policies at the state or federal level,” she said.
The document listed several calls to action, including the institutionalisation of gender mainstreaming and a gender-responsive budget at all levels of governance, ensuring equal representation of women in government through inclusive policies and anti-discrimination mechanisms and to urge all stakeholders to invest in care infrastructure and recognising care work as a main economic driver.
Other calls to action include closing the digital gap by creating a safe online environment and empowering women in the green sector and to coordinate national laws with global conventions such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards to ensure the rights that are championed can be enforced.
The forum also witnessed a collaboration agreement between WBS and INCEIF University through the ISRA Institute and Parent At Work, Australia, which reflects their shared commitment to advancing inclusive innovation in the care economy sector, increasing women's resilience and providing a support system for working parents, particularly in the aspect of career and family balance.
Meanwhile, WBS chief executive officer Siti Faridah Abdul Samad stressed that Malaysian women remain underrepresented at all levels of decision-making and often face discrimination, bias, violence and structural barriers in politics
“To address these issues, we need to enforce protective measures, adopt zero-tolerance policies on harassment and demand stronger commitments from political parties. Civic education must also be strengthened to challenge stereotypes and normalise women’s leadership at every level of decision-making,” she said in her closing speech at the forum today.
Siti Faridah also emphasised the importance of investing in care infrastructure, pointing out that women spend three times more hours than men on unpaid care work limiting their economic opportunities.
“I call upon all leaders in ASEAN countries to invest in childcare, elderly care, and family-friendly policies in support of encouraging women’s participation in the workforce. By doing so, we’re not only unlocking women’s economic potential but also driving Gross Domestic Product growth,” she said.
The Gender Outlook Forum, held annually since 2022, serves as a regional platform to exchange best practices, strengthen policy dialogue and foster multi-stakeholder collaboration on advancing gender equality.
--BERNAMA
