Women in civil service are nation-builders, not just supporting figures
PUTRAJAYA: Women in the civil service are not just supporting figures in government agencies but capable leaders, policy thinkers, and nation-builders, said Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.
Citing 2023 data from the Public Service Department (PSD), he noted that women made up 59.3 per cent of the public sector workforce, or a total of 765,616 employees, surpassing the number of male civil servants.
'The hand that rocks the cradle is capable of rocking the world. This is very much in line with the seventh target under the MADANI Economy framework, which aims for a 60 per cent female labour force participation rate by 2033.'
Shamsul Azri made the remarks during the closing ceremony of the 43rd Annual General Meeting of the Malaysian Association of Wives and Women Civil Servants (Puspanita), officiated by its patron, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, here today.
Shamsul Azri, who is also Puspanita's advisor, emphasised that women are no longer just supporters but are agents of change and capable, respected leaders.
'It's not an exaggeration to say that empowering women today isn't only about preserving a legacy of leadership - it's about expanding their reach and strengthening their opportunities,' he said.
Shamsul Azri also expressed hope that Puspanita would align its new direction with national development goals through the upcoming PUSPANITA Strategic Plan 2026–2030.
'One key area Puspanita must continue to prioritise is welfare and volunteer programmes,' he added, citing Puspanita's recent on-ground support for victims of the Putra Heights gas pipe explosion as an example of meaningful engagement that brought real impact to affected communities.
Also present at the event were Puspanita president Puan Sri Maheran Jamil, Prime Minister's Department senior deputy secretary-general Datuk Abd Shukor Mahmood, and Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) deputy editor-in-chief Nasriah Darus.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
11 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Expediting reforms will make tax hikes easier to swallow, govt told
World Bank's lead economist for Malaysia, Apurva Sanghi, said reducing spending would not be easy as most of it involved 'rigid' costs such as wages, pensions and debt service. PETALING JAYA : The World Bank's lead economist for Malaysia, Apurva Sanghi, says expediting reforms – such as enacting a government procurement law – will make the public less hostile towards tax hikes. In a post on X on the expansion of the sales and service tax, Apurva pointed out that the auditor-general regularly uncovered losses in public funds, irregular payments and wastages across various ministries. While some reforms have been carried out, a specific law to oversee government procurement has been delayed, he said. Apurva said reforms would build public trust, which in turn would make it 'easier to swallow bitter tax hikes'. 'Tax hikes are painful but people can bear them, if they're meaningful. 'This means faster progress, especially on governance reforms and that would increase trust.' Apurva said trust was the ultimate currency for any government. On comparisons made between the SST and the goods and services tax, Apurva said that while both were regressive, it could be made progressive via targeted cash transfers and exemptions. 'The current SST expansion does include progressive elements.' On June 9, the finance ministry announced that a 5% to 10% rate would be imposed on non-essential goods from July 1, although basic necessities would not be taxed. The announcement has triggered brickbats. Apurva also responded to those questioning the government's decision to raise taxes instead of reducing spending. He said while it was a fair question, the country needed to spend more, which meant it needed to raise more revenue. The finance ministry previously said that the SST collection is expected to increase by RM5 billion in 2025 and by RM10 billion in 2026, following the expansion of its scope. Apurva noted that both revenue and spending had dropped by 30% since 2012, which was well below those of global peers. 'Spending needs are only growing, especially as Malaysia ages,' he said, adding that reducing spending would not be easy as most of it involved 'rigid' costs such as wages, pensions and debt service which accounted for 57% of operation expenditure.
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
Philippine prosecutors demand trial of VP Sara Duterte over alleged assassination plot and misuse of public funds
MANILA, June 27 — Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte must be tried, and ultimately convicted, over serious charges, including an alleged threat to have the president killed, prosecutors argued in a submission to a Senate impeachment court on Friday. Duterte is facing removal from her post and a lifetime ban from office if convicted. She has denied wrongdoing and maintains her impeachment is politically motivated and the result of an acrimonious falling out between her and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Lower house prosecutors said the weight of the evidence against Duterte justifies a full-blown trial, rejecting her defence that the allegations against her in an impeachment complaint were unsubstantiated. 'The severity of the charges leaves no room for technical evasion. A trial is not only warranted but necessary to reinforce justice, uphold democratic principles, and affirm that no individual, regardless of rank of influence, stands above the law,' they said in their response to Duterte's defence. 'It is obvious from a simple reading of (Duterte's response), which relies on misleading claims and baseless procedural objections, that the only legal strategy of the defence is to have the case dismissed and avoid trial,' the prosecutors said. Duterte, who was impeached by the lower house in February, has described the impeachment complaint as unconstitutional and 'nothing more than a scrap of paper.' Included in the complaint were allegations she misused public funds while vice president and education secretary and had plotted to assassinate Marcos, the first lady and the house speaker based on remarks during a November press conference about hiring an assassin. Duterte's impeachment is widely seen in the Philippines as part of a broader power struggle ahead of the 2028 election, which Marcos cannot contest due to a single-term limit for presidents and will likely seek to groom a successor to protect his legacy. Marcos has distanced himself from the impeachment. Duterte, the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, is expected to run for the presidency in 2028 if she survives the impeachment and would be a strong contender. — Reuters
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
13MP review crucial to avoid policy pitfalls, say economists
KUALA LUMPUR: Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah's main duty of finalising the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) will improve policy coordination between the Finance Ministry and the Economy Ministry, say economists. Economist Professor Geoffrey Williams said it is essential for the 13MP to be a robust framework and, as such, it should undergo a comprehensive final review. He said that increased external and independent scrutiny of the process would enhance the quality of the final document. "Although there are no details on the exact content, it is important that each proposal is evaluated by independent experts to ensure there are no unintended consequences or obvious issues that need to be addressed. "There is only a short time for the final review, but it is worth undertaking this exercise to avoid the risk of presenting a document that may attract criticism from the outset," he said. He said the move would improve policy coordination between the Finance Ministry and the Economy Ministry, and also help in understanding the long-term financial implications and funding strategies. Yesterday, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azhar Abbas announced that Amir Hamzah would assume the duties and functions of the Economy Minister with immediate effect. He said Amir Hamzah's primary responsibility is to revise and reformulate the contents of the 13MP document, which will be tabled in parliament on July 31. The portfolio became vacant after Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli resigned from the post on May 28, following his defeat in the PKR central leadership election, where he failed to retain the party's deputy president post. However, Rafizi, in a statement, expressed concern over the move to revise and reformulate the document, warning that a last-minute decision could undermine public confidence in the national policy document. Meanwhile, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the review could improve policy coordination, as there would be greater connectivity between the Finance Ministry and the Economy Ministry. "I'm sure the 13MP will reflect budget constraints and aim for a higher multiplier effect on growth, while at the same time remaining disciplined in managing government finances," he said. He said Amir Hamzah, as a technocrat, would take a pragmatic approach to reviewing the document. "In addition, the plans are being prepared by government machinery that is highly competent, so I suppose the changes would take into consideration the country's long-term growth interests," he said.
