Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) has urged local authorities nationwide to boldly adopt Gender Responsive and Participatory Budgeting (GRPB) according to their local contexts as a new governance standard. Minister Nga Kor Ming said the ministry is committed to strengthening policies and providing support to expand the implementation of GRPB nationwide.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Nga emphasized the importance of local authorities in national governance, highlighting their role as the frontline where the needs of a multi-ethnic society are addressed. He noted that the GRPB approach combines Gender Responsive Budgeting and Participatory Budgeting as a national policy tool to ensure budgets meet the people's needs without marginalization.
His opening address was delivered via a video conference during the 2025 Neksus GRPB National Conference and Applied Workshop. The event was attended by local authorities from across the country and organized by the Penang Island City Council, Seberang Perai City Council, and Penang Women's Development Corporation. Also present were Lim Siew Kim, State Committee for Social Development, Welfare and Non-Islamic Affairs chairperson, and Datuk Seri Dr. Mainumah Mohd Sharif, Mayor of Kuala Lumpur City Hall.
The conference aimed to promote democratic and inclusive budget planning through the integration of these budgeting methods. Nga highlighted that GRPB aligns with Malaysia MADANI values and supports Sustainable Development Goals 5, 10, 11, and 16.
Lim Siew Kim clarified that GRPB focuses on justice, participation, balance, and sustainable development, emphasizing that it recognizes the distinct needs of different groups. She stated that the 2025 Nexus GRPB Conference serves as a unifying point for strengthening inclusive budgeting across local authorities to ensure no community is left behind.
Lim concluded by expressing hope that the 2025 GRPB Nexus would catalyze fairer, more responsive, and sustainable governance in Malaysia, marking a progression from a small idea to a significant policy practice under the state's gender inclusion policy.