KUALA LUMPUR: Women should work together to plan, implement and focus on the agenda of empowering women at all levels for the development of the country in conjunction with Malaysia Day 2022 celebrations, said Higher Education Minister (MOHE) Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad.

Noraini in a post on her Facebook page said the women of today are more independent, strong, daring and are no longer weak or subservient.

"In our country, the percentage of women sitting as board members is the highest in Asia, which is 25.8 per cent compared to the global average of only 19.7 per cent.

"In the public service sector, 38.2 per cent of women are in decision-making roles or holding premier grade C positions.

"Looking at the capabilities of women today, I hope that there will be no more degrading of women's dignity, she said.


Noraini said although the figures and achievements show positive developments, the fight to uplift women must still continue.

She said women's empowerment in various fields must begin from the initial stage in making the women's empowerment aspiration successful, where women at every level must be mobilised.

Meanwhile, she said the 2022 National Student Leadership Empowerment Convention organised by MOHE at UiTM Puncak Alam recently was an excellent example of an initiative to empower women as decision makers.

"This convention was held not only for us to listen to their voices, ideas and views but even more, to recognise the leadership of these young women who will one day inherit the leadership of the country," she said.

-- BERNAMA