Amanda Siddharta
Research expert covering Malaysia
Women empowerment in Malaysia - statistics & facts
When Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was appointed deputy prime minister in 2018, she made history as the first woman to ever hold the second-highest position in the Malaysian government. Her term was cut short after 22 months in office due to political turmoil that resulted in the resignation of the former Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohammad.
Nevertheless, Ismail showed that although Malaysia still has much to improve regarding its gender gap, trailing behind other Southeast Asian countries like Singapore and Thailand, Malaysian women are becoming more empowered, and more pathways are being created to provide access to leadership positions.
Despite Malaysian women’s achievements in higher education, they are underemployed in the workforce. Only 55.9 percent of women participated in the country’s labor force in 2022; meanwhile, men’s participation reached more than 82 percent. This could be attributed to traditional gender roles that are still common in many Malaysian families. Women are still expected to be the primary caregivers and men the breadwinners. In addition to that, the gender pay gap also remains one of the biggest challenges for working women. Under the initiative “MADANI economy,” launched in 2023, the government aimed to increase women’s labor participation to 60 percent and tackle the issue of pay equity.
Not only in politics, but more Malaysian women are breaking the glass ceiling in the corporate world and holding high positions at their workplaces. As of 2023, 40 percent of senior managerial positions were held by women , an increase of three percent compared to 2021.
Although women’s empowerment has made significant progress in Malaysia, there is still much to be done to improve gender equality in the country, especially in changing the mindset of women’s role only as caregivers. According to a 2023 survey, even though 45 percent of Malaysian respondents stated that they have no gender preference for political leaders, 43 percent expressed they still preferred men to hold leadership positions in politics.
Nevertheless, Ismail showed that although Malaysia still has much to improve regarding its gender gap, trailing behind other Southeast Asian countries like Singapore and Thailand, Malaysian women are becoming more empowered, and more pathways are being created to provide access to leadership positions.
Are Malaysian women underemployed?
In Malaysia, education is compulsory for all children up to year six of primary school. This was reflected by a more than 98 percent enrollment rate at the primary level for both female and male students. As the education level increases, more women appear to surpass men in educational attainment. In 2022, there were more than 405,000 female students at public universities in Malaysia, a number that was significantly higher than that of male students.Despite Malaysian women’s achievements in higher education, they are underemployed in the workforce. Only 55.9 percent of women participated in the country’s labor force in 2022; meanwhile, men’s participation reached more than 82 percent. This could be attributed to traditional gender roles that are still common in many Malaysian families. Women are still expected to be the primary caregivers and men the breadwinners. In addition to that, the gender pay gap also remains one of the biggest challenges for working women. Under the initiative “MADANI economy,” launched in 2023, the government aimed to increase women’s labor participation to 60 percent and tackle the issue of pay equity.
Women as decision makers
In 2022, women made up 17.9 percent of Malaysian cabinet ministers, an increase of two percent compared to the previous year. Although the number was still far behind the 30 percent quota for women in high-ranking political seats, this indicates a significant improvement in women’s empowerment in Malaysia and representation in decision-making positions.Not only in politics, but more Malaysian women are breaking the glass ceiling in the corporate world and holding high positions at their workplaces. As of 2023, 40 percent of senior managerial positions were held by women , an increase of three percent compared to 2021.
Although women’s empowerment has made significant progress in Malaysia, there is still much to be done to improve gender equality in the country, especially in changing the mindset of women’s role only as caregivers. According to a 2023 survey, even though 45 percent of Malaysian respondents stated that they have no gender preference for political leaders, 43 percent expressed they still preferred men to hold leadership positions in politics.
