The Malaysia Women & Girls Forum (MWGF) said significant gender gaps remained in many areas, including participation in politics and public life as well as the economy and in terms of remuneration.

It said the statistics department had recorded a labour force participation rate of 55.8% for women compared to 81.9% for men.

The gender wage gap meanwhile stands at 33.3%, with women receiving RM66.67 for every RM100 in salaries and wages received by men.

MWGF added that Malaysia’s political and decision-making spheres remained dominated by men despite women making up some 50% of the population.

It acknowledged progress in representation but said this had been slow.

“As far back as 2004, the Malaysian government set a 30% target for female representation as decision makers in the public sector.

“Yet 20 years later, this is far from the reality,” it said in a statement.

It gave the example of the civil service, which has only two female secretaries-general, and the Cabinet where women constitute 16.1% of the ministers.

MWGF said these gaps should be urgently addressed as they affected the well-being of women and girls, as well as Malaysians in general.

“When women are not represented equally in public life or are economically disadvantaged, our country loses out in untapped economic might, untapped talent, and human potential that is critical,” it said.

Issues related to these gaps will be highlighted at the 2024 edition of MWGF on Dec 12.

The forum, titled “Women and Nation Building – The Foundation for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion”, will feature speakers such as women, family and community development minister Nancy Shukri, education minister Fadhlina Sidek, and Lawyers for Liberty’s Latheefa Koya.

FMT is a media partner for the event.