Dr Ong (seated centre) together with research fellows from MCA's Policy & People's Livelihood Advisory Committee. With her are (seated from left) Prof Dr Ananda, Assistant Prof Dr Grace Lim, (standing from left) Dr Mala, Assoc Prof Dr Lai Siow Li, Dr Izwan Harith, Prof Dr Steven Chong, Joanne Tan, and Associate Dr Tan Hui Yin.
PETALING JAYA: Stronger efforts are needed from government agencies to ensure women entrepreneurs have the opportunity to thrive, says MCA’s Policy and People’s Livelihood Advisory Committee.
Committee chairman Dr Monna Ong said enhanced support and active engagements among agencies will benefit individual entrepreneurs and contribute significantly to the nation's overall economic growth and social development.
She also urged for increased access to affordable, high-quality childcare through digital platforms, creating targeted funding opportunities, and offering financial literacy programs.
"Additionally, we propose supporting networking and mentorship through digital tools to foster connections, share experiences, and provide guidance, which are vital for entrepreneurial growth and resilience.
“The Entrepreneurship and Cooperatives Development Ministry can play an important role here in improving the percentage of women entrepreneurs in Malaysia,” said Dr Ong, who is an associate professor at the Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT).
For the informal sector, Dr Ong advocated developing community-based childcare services, ensuring equal pay for equal work, and narrowing the gap of gender-based discrimination and wage disparities, among other issues.
She said the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry can play a significant role in ensuring the well-being of Malaysian women.
“These steps are justified by the need to support women in managing their dual roles in work and family, ensuring they operate in fair and supportive environments, and providing them with access to capital that is often unavailable through traditional financial institutions,” she said.
She also stressed the need for government agencies to be proactive and aggressive in their outreach and support efforts with Malaysian women entrepreneurs.
Dr Ong proposed collaborations between government agencies and global initiatives such as Google’s Women Will programmes, citing its potential to create a worldwide impact.
“However, it is crucial that these efforts reach both formal and informal enterprises effectively and inclusively across all races in Malaysia,” she said.
This comes following findings from the "Digital Pathways: Unlocking Potential and Boosting the Success of Malaysia’s Women Entrepreneurs" survey conducted by MCA’s Policy and People’s Livelihood Advisory Committee.
Several key challenges faced by women entrepreneurs were identified, including balancing work and family, with 63.8% of women in formal enterprises and 43.2% in informal enterprises reporting difficulties in this area.
High-stress levels affected 46.7% of women, with slightly higher rates in informal enterprises.
Gender-based discrimination impacted 28% of women in formal sectors, with higher rates recorded in the informal sector.
Sexual harassment was reported by 22.6% of women in formal enterprises and 18.8% in informal enterprises.
The survey also revealed that women entrepreneurs in formal enterprises are more likely to work long hours (63.5%) and weekends (55.2%) compared to their counterparts in informal enterprises.
“Both groups experienced high levels of stress and responsibility, with 50.5% in formal and 47.0% in informal sectors,” it said.
Findings noted that 46.8% of women in formal enterprises spend less time with family and loved ones.
“Other significant challenges include devoting time and energy, fear of failure, and having no paycheck or benefits for a while, with slightly higher impacts on those in formal enterprises,” according to the findings.
The survey comprised 535 female respondents from three locations - Klang Valley (304), Penang (115), and Johor (116).
It was carried out by Dr Lim Chia Yien, Dr Fiona Jane, and Prof Dr Chong Shyue Chuan.
