KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin Tuesday outlined four key criteria, essential for Malaysian women in order to overcome barriers and excel in their chosen fields.

The Deputy Prime Minister said women in Malaysia must be well prepared to embrace new challenges, meet demands of the future and also equip themselves with new skills and knowledge, be it business, communication, technology or any other professions.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin with Women, Family And Community Development Deputy Minister Datuk Heng Seai Kie at the launching of the 10th Women's Summit 2012

“First, you must build your capacity to compete and be one step ahead at all times,” he said when launching the 10th Women Summit, Tuesday.

The second, was to nurture positive attitudes and be confident with their own ability to overcome barriers, he added.

He elaborated that only by nurturing positive attitudes, would they be able to explore new opportunities and break new grounds in their respective fields.

Also present at the event were Tourism minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen and Women, Family and Community Development Deputy Minister Datuk Heng Seai Kie.

He went on to note the third criteria as a “ground breaker”, something special, something value added, such as a talent or perspective that provided real benefits.

“And fourth, there must be opportunities allowing women to excel,” he said.

Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, noted that apart from the four criteria, education was a critical factor to include women in the nation's mainstream. He added that with better education or higher academic qualifications, women could enter professional fields which were traditionally dominated by men. - Bernama

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