By: Zulkifli Abd Rahman

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - An action plan to guarantee that women hold at least 30% of the decision-making positions in both the public and private sectors is expected to be implemented soon.

The direction of the action plan, which was formulated by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry and various interest groups four years ago, is almost completed.

Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Faizah Mohd Tahir said the plan to speed up gender equality programmes was necessary as the number of women decision-makers in both sectors was still low.

However, she said the number was much lower in the corporate sector compared to the public sector where women have held an encouraging 22% of the decision-making positions, such as senior officers with the rank of Jusa C and above.

"There is no deadline to meet the target, but the action plan will help them achieve the gender equality goals in a more comprehensive manner," she told reporters after opening a gender awareness seminar for MPs and senators here yesterday.

Faizah said that under the policy, the corporate sector would not be penalised if it failed to adhere to the 30% target.

"We prefer to use persuasion instead," she said.

Faizah said the ministry has plans to introduce gender awareness awards for companies which have successfully reached the 30% target.

The Prime Minister's CSR Award, which began in 2007, she said, would include a new category for companies which carry out corporate social responsibility programmes for the empowerment of women.

Earlier, in her speech, Faizah said that as of last year, there were 13.7 million women in the country, making up 49.1% of the total population.

However, she said only 45.7% of them were in the employment market compared to 79.5% of men.

The percentage, she said, was much lower for the decision-making category.

"For example, in Parliament only 10.4% of MPs are women, while in the Dewan Negara, the percentage of women senators has decreased from 33.3% in 2004 to 27.3% in April this year," she added.

Faizah said women faced many challenges in moving forward in the gender equality process.

They include the traditional view that women were followers and not decision-makers.

"There is also a lack of female role models for other women to follow and become leaders themselves," she added.

--The Star/ANN