Empowering women in Sarawak vital to drive socioeconomic transformation, says Premier
KUCHING (April 22): Women in Sarawak possess the quality, capability, and strength in numbers to drive the state's socioeconomic transformation, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said as women comprise nearly 50 per cent of Sarawak's almost three million population, their empowerment is crucial to address emerging socioeconomic challenges.
'Women from our diverse ethnic groups — Dayak, Malay, Chinese, Indian, Melanau, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, and other indigenous communities — play vital roles in shaping the state's political, economic, and social
landscape,' he said in his keynote address at the 4th Meeting of the Coordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (WAIPA) 2025 here today.
'I can assure you that they will play a very significant and strategic role in our economic policies to be developed by the year 2030.'
He said Sarawak is in a transitional phase of achieving gender equality, which hinges on three key prerequisites which are merit, acceptance, and social intellect.
Women must be recognised for their qualifications and leadership capabilities, not merely granted positions for the sake of representation, he said.
'You are there because you have the merit. And this merit, therefore, becomes the key for leadership growth,' he said.
For the issue of acceptance, Abang Johari said it lies with society's ability to recognise and support individuals in leadership roles based on merit, regardless of whether they are men or women.
He said society will reach a certain level of intellectual maturity, allowing merit to naturally become the basis for leadership and recognition.
He noted that over the past decade, women have increasingly taken on leadership roles in Europe, particularly in politics.
Abang Johari said Sarawak has made significant strides in promoting women's rights, as reflected in the growing participation of women in education, workforce, and leadership roles.
'More women now hold prominent positions in government, business, and civil society.
'Gender-responsive policies and women-focused programmes have helped narrow the gender gap and allowed women to pursue education and careers that were once male-dominated,' he said.
He also pointed out that Sarawak has taken progressive steps by forming women's councils and committees to promote gender-sensitive policies, in line with Malaysia's broader commitment to gender equality in national development strategies and international frameworks.
Among those present were Dewan Negara President Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, and Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar. abang johari lead women empowerment
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