KUALA LUMPUR: Several Budget 2025 initiatives would empower women and give clear indicators on their contributions to the country, say academics.
Prof Dr Haslinda Abdullah, director of the Institute for Social Science Studies at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), said the government’s aim of increasing women’s involvement in the board of the top 100 companies listed on Bursa Malaysia could indirectly bridge the gender gap.
She said measures to encourage women to return to the workforce with various incentives under the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry could be achieved by ensuring comprehensive training opportunities for them.
“In the context of work-life balance for career women, more flexibility must be given to those who are breadwinners and the sandwich generation, especially in this era where working from home is practical for some careers.
“For those who have to work from the office, childcare services must be improved, with a comfortable space for breastfeeding too.
“An improved quality of life for women will impact their emotional and mental well-being, which in turn will have a positive impact on families and society,” she told Bernama yesterday.
(The sandwich generation refers to those who have to take care of both their elderly parents and their young children.)
Budget 2025 would also see the Women’s Leadership Apprenticeship Programme being intensified under the ministry to produce more female corporate figures.
The government also proposed to provide additional income tax exemption of 50% for 12 months to employers who hire women who are returning to work.
Dr Nadisah Zakaria, senior lecturer at the School of Business at Prince Sultan University in Riyadh, described the RM650mil allocation to support women and youth in entrepreneurship as a step towards fostering inclusivity and diversity in the business landscape.
She said the initiative reflected a growing recognition of the critical role played by women in economic and entrepreneurship development.
“The provision of financial support through institutions like the SME Bank, Bank Simpanan Nasional, Bank Rakyat and Majlis Amanah Rakyat not only facilitates access to capital but also empowers women entrepreneurs to expand their businesses and be innovative in their respective fields.
“This effort is in line with the wider objective of gender equality and economic empowerment for sustainable growth.
“The main thing we want to see is how this allocation is channelled, how it reaches the targeted groups and how it is fully capitalised,” she said.
