KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has encouraged leaders in all organisations – governmental and non-governmental organisations, political parties, as well as the corporate sector – to identify, uplift and empower young women leaders.
He said young women leaders should be given space as they need to flourish and unleash their full potential.
“I believe young women leaders of today will be great leaders of tomorrow. We must stop doubting their potential as it is already proven that women, too, can make better leaders,” he said in his keynote address at the virtual Rise 2021: Future Female Leaders Forum today.
He said empowering women goes beyond giving encouraging words, adding that it is also about acknowledging that there are cultural and systemic challenges that they face in everyday life solely due to their gender.
“Empowering women means we must not be a bystander to this fact, but instead be the ones who actively provide continuous support for them to overcome those challenges, and create change for a just and equitable world.”
Muhyiddin said empowering women means protecting their rights to education, freedom of speech and equal opportunities.
He added that women should be provided with the opportunities and necessary support for them to succeed in all their endeavours.
“Let them pursue their wildest dreams and prove their ability to succeed in this challenging and competitive world. I believe successful women will contribute immensely to the betterment of our country, community and families.”
Muhyiddin stressed that women are the pillars of the nation, and all parties must create and sustain the right environment for them and all to thrive.
He said the support should start with young girls, especially in education, as according to a new Brookings report, increasing the number of women completing secondary education by just 1% could increase a country’s economic growth by 0.3%.
The Brookings Institution has also found that every additional year of school increases a girl’s eventual wages by an average of 12%.
The prime minister said Malaysia recognises that empowered women, especially financially empowered females, are key to building nations and economies.
As such, he said, the government continues to provide support for women entrepreneurs through various initiatives, including the RM95 million special micro-credit financing through Tekun, Mara and Agrobank, as well as the RM50 million allocated to the Islamic Economic Development Foundation to support Islamic pawnbroking through Ar-Rahnu BizNita.
He also said women have contributed immensely to the economic and social well-being of societies even during this Covid-19 pandemic. – Bernama, March 13, 2021
