This was said by Minister of Finance, YB Senator Tengku Dato’ Sri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz in his speech when he delivered the National Budget 2022 on 29October 2021.
“We should ensure that women are able to fulfill their potential in contributing to our shared well-being,” he said.
Women in high positions in companies
Among the measures to take care the welfare of women in the country includes the ensuring the appointment of at least one female director for all public listed companies.
Currently, women hold 25 per cent of Board positions on the top 100 public listed companies.
“However, 27 per cent of 252 companies listed on Bursa Malaysia still do not have any female directors,” said YB Senator Tengku Dato’ Sri Zafrul.
Thus, recognising the role of women in the decision-making process and to strengthen the governance and effectiveness of boards, the Government, through the Securities Commissions will make it mandatory to have at least one female Board member for all public listed companies.
YB Senator Tengku Dato’ Sri Zafrul noted that the initiative will take effect from 1September 2022 for large cap companies and from 1 June 2021 for the remaining listed companies.
Women Entrepreneurship
Aside from that, the Government will allocate RM5 million to the Women Leadership Foundation to boost women’s participation in the economic sectors through youth leadership training and entrepreneurship programme, among others.
In championing women entrepreneurship, funding will be provided to support women entrepreneurs to expand their business activities.
This includes a total of RM23 million DANANITA programme under MARA and TEKUNITA under TEKUN as well as RM6.26 million for MyKasih Capital Programme.
Through the MyKasih Capital Programme, female entrepreneurs will receive assistance in the form of basic business capital as well as guidance and training for online business.
“An estimated 5,000 participants including 2,000 single mothers are expected to benefit from this programme.
Women in working sector
On the other note, the budget also covers women who are in the working sector.
A total of RM30 million will be provided for childcare in Government buildings, especially public hospitals and universities.
Private sector employers are also encouraged to adopt flexible working arrangements and childcare facilities at the office.
“For this, other than through tax incentives, the Government will also amend guidelines to better facilitate childcare to operate above the first floor of office of office buildings,” said YB Senator Tengku Dato’ Sri Zafrul.
Aside from this, the Government also proposed to the individual income tax relief of up to RM3000 for fee paid to registered child care centre or kindergarten until the year of assessment 2023.
This is in recognition for working mothers who require childcare services.
Women safety and well-being
In addressing women’s safety, the Government will allocate RM13 million to strengthen the D11 Division – Sexual Women and Children Investigation of the Royal Malaysian Police, in addition to creating 100 new posts.
In line with this, community awareness programmes on violence against women will be undertaken across the country through the WAJA Squad.
To protect the welfare of more victims of domestic violence, the Government will also add Local Social Support Centres and work with NGOs to increase the number of Special Shelters for Women.
In 2020, the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development noted that 9,015 police reports were lodged for domestic violence since the implementation of the movement control order (MCO) for COVID-19.
Aside from safety, the budget also takes on the well-being of women.
The National Population and Family Development Board in collaboration with the Malaysian Prisons Department will distribute free basic personal hygiene kits every month to 130,000 B40 female teenagers.
In addition to this, health campaign and education will also be conducted in schools in collaboration with NGOs.
Adding more, a total of RM11 million is provided as a subsidy for mammogram tests to high-risk women and to implement cervical cancer screening tests for women.
Also, in ensuring the well-being and welfare of women taken care of, the Government has provided RM80 million by contributing to EPF and SOSCO under the Kasih Suri Keluarga Malaysia programme for housewives up to 55 years of age.
