More opportunities needed for women in the country – Penang CM
PENANG Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has lamented that the country continues to lag behind others in the gender equality score despite showing improvement.
Recent international assessments have revealed that Malaysia's gender equality score has improved globally; however, the country remains the lowest ranked within the ASEAN region, placing 108th out of 148 countries surveyed in the recent gender gap report.
Chow concluded that the survey reveals two aspects: the country is moving forward, but other nations are moving faster.
Many of the challenges encountered by women are familiar; access to capital for women entrepreneurs expanding on their enterprises remained low.
There are unequal opportunities for women to rise into leadership roles, and the continued balancing of career ambitions with family responsibilities by women is a concern, said Chow.
He said this at the fifth annual general meeting of the Penang Women Chamber of Commerce (PWCC), which was founded by veteran DAP Wanita leader Datuk Seri Chong Eng with help from PWCC charter president and advisor Datuk Annie Chin.
PWCC also marked the dual celebration of the Lunar New Year and International Women's Day, which was held recently.
In Penang, women are increasingly shaping the island and the country’s economic landscape as founders, investors, employers, and innovators, contributing to sectors such as manufacturing, technology, services, tourism, and creative industries, Chow noted.
“Over the past six years, the state government has supported 433 women entrepreneurs through programmes such as PenMentor and Wanita Jana Rezeki, with participants achieving average annual income growth of around 30 per cent.
Nationally, nearly 219,000 women-owned businesses were registered in 2022, making up more than 20 per cent of total businesses,” Chow said.
He also highlighted women-led trade initiatives, such as HERTrade, which has brought together more than 120 women-led enterprises and attracted over 5,000 visitors, showcasing the dynamism of women entrepreneurs across various sectors.
However, Chow said that while progress is encouraging, challenges remain in accessing capital, securing leadership opportunities, and balancing career and family responsibilities.
“Under the Penang2030 vision, empowering women is central to building a family-focused, green, and smart state. When women succeed, families prosper."
And when the families prosper, communities become stronger, and Penang, as a state, can move forward better, said Chow.
He also reaffirmed the state’s commitment towards enhancing women’s participation in the economy and leadership roles, urging all women entrepreneurs and leaders to continue driving Penang’s growth.
State exco for family development, Lim Siew Khim, said that progress is not about women replacing men.
"It is about women and men working side by side with mutual respect to build a society where everyone has the opportunity to succeed," she said. - March 10, 2026.
