She said the post should instead be assigned to a suitable woman leader.
The DAP legislator said the federal government’s stated intention to increase the number of women in decision-making positions was badly reflected by the “power grab” in the Women’s Innovation Academy (MyWin), which comes under the Prime Minister’s Department.
On Friday, Najib said he was invited by MyWin co-founder and president Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to be its advisory council chairman. Educationist Lim Kok Wing is its deputy chairman.
“In what way is the government going to ensure that women hold decision-making positions when the prime minister shamelessly takes that post?” Kasthuri asked.
“To add insult to injury, even the deputy chairman of this advisory council is also a man,” she added in a statement today.
“Is Najib trying to say that there are no credible, intelligent or courageous female leaders in the entire Malaysian cabinet who can lead this?”
She said it was illogical for Najib to chair the council parked under the Prime Minister’s Department as a woman academician or NGO could easily lead it.
Kasthuri also said Najib had in 2012 also taken over the role of women’s development minister, replacing Shahrizat after her term as senator expired.
At the launch of MyWin on Friday, Najib said the academy was serious about naming and shaming public-listed companies with no women on their boards.
“Currently, women account for only 16.8% of director positions in the top-100 listed companies on Bursa Malaysia,” he was quoted as saying by New Straits Times.
“Creating the next generation of women innovators in the corporate sector is very much in line with our continuous efforts to increase the number of women in decision-making roles in the corporate sector,” he added.