Women’s participation in Sabah’s economy, politics still lags behind – IDS chairperson

KOTA KINABALU (Jan 11): Women’s involvement in the economic and political development of Sabah remains significantly behind, highlighting the need for a major shift and collective support from all sectors of society. 

Chairperson of the Sabah Institute for Development Studies (IDS), Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun emphasized that the participation gap in both economic and political spheres poses a challenge to enabling women to play an active role in the state’s progress.

“We all acknowledge that women play a crucial role in the development of both the state and the nation. However, according to the Malaysia Gender Gap Index (MGGI) 2022, there is a clear disparity in women’s economic participation and political representation.

“The score for women’s political empowerment is a mere 0.102, underscoring the significant challenges that need to be addressed to strengthen their role in this area.

“In Sabah, only 18 percent of women hold positions as council members in local authorities, while just 26 percent serve on boards of directors or hold CEO positions in government agencies and government-linked companies (GLCs),” she said during the Sabah Women’s Budget 2025 Townhall Session here on Saturday.

Azizah also highlighted that women’s representation in leadership positions across political parties in Sabah remains low, with data showing involvement levels of just four to 13 percent.

“This figure points to the urgent need to overcome the barriers faced by women in this state.

“As a nation aspiring to achieve gender equality in development, we face significant challenges in enhancing women’s participation in leadership, especially in Sabah.

“Although more women are now highly educated and qualified, their representation in leadership roles within the public and private sectors still does not reflect their true potential,” she said.

She revealed that in Sabah, only about 14 percent of women occupy decision-making positions in the public sector, with the majority remaining in support or clerical roles. This indicates the presence of systemic barriers preventing women from attaining strategic positions within organizations.

Despite the Malaysian government’s 2004 policy mandating at least 30 percent women’s representation in the public sector, women’s participation in senior management within both public and private sectors remains low, Azizah added.

“In Sabah, their involvement in high-level leadership and policymaking remains limited. We observe challenges rooted in cultural norms and societal perceptions that restrict women from taking on leadership roles.

“In some rural areas of Sabah, conservative views on women’s roles persist, resulting in a lack of support for women aspiring to hold management or decision-making positions.

“The absence of mentorship programs and targeted leadership development for women further widens the gap in female representation,” she said.

Azizah urged women and relevant stakeholders to actively support empowerment programmes in various sectors to ensure women’s greater and more impactful involvement in the development and progress of both the state and the nation.