KUALA LUMPUR, A total of 39 companies in the top 100 companies listed on Bursa Malaysia have yet to meet the target of having 30 per cent women participation in their boards.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on average the number of women holding such positions in the top 100 listed companies was at a rate of 32.2 per cent as at Oct 10, 2024.

‘The government is calling, urging and demanding an explanation as to why this target has not been achieved by the said companies and (they) are given another year to consider increasing the participation of women in the board of directors (BoD),’ he said when presenting Budget 2025 in the Dewan Rakyat today.

The government also urged that the target be achieved by all companies before the end of 2027.

Anwar said the government will continue to encourage women to return to work including proposing to give an additional tax deduction of 50 per cent for wages paid for 12 months, to employers who employ women to return to work.

Additionally, he said the Wom
en’s Leadership Apprenticeship Programme (Perantis) has been enhanced under the Ministry of Women to produce more corporate figures among women.

Anwar who is also the Finance Minister announced that the Returnship Programme will be launched to encourage women to return to work in the financial sector.

‘This programme, organised by Bank Negara Malaysia and the Securities Commission Malaysia, will provide training facilities and then connect participants with suitable potential employers for reemployment,’ he said.

Besides that, a total of RM470 million in financing funds has been allocated by SME Bank, Bank Simpanan Nasional, Bank Rakyat, and Majlis Amanah Rakyat to support women-owned micro, small, and medium enterprises in obtaining working capital, purchasing assets, and subsequently increasing their business capacity to a higher level.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency