Penang: Penang has reaffirmed its readiness to play a stronger role in advancing gender parity and diversity in corporate leadership, leveraging its status as home to many multinational and public-listed companies (PLCs). State Social Development, Welfare and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee Chairman Lim Siew Khim said the state's commitment to gender equality is not merely a slogan, but a practical agenda reflecting Penang's values of inclusivity, progress, and shared prosperity.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Lim stated that Malaysia has made encouraging progress, with women now holding 29.3 percent of board seats in PLCs overall and 34.6 percent in the Top 100 PLCs. She emphasized that Penang has the talent, diversity, and corporate presence to help achieve the national goal of 30 percent women representation on boards. Lim highlighted that the local economy thrives on innovation and leadership teams that reflect a range of perspectives, strengthening governance and supporting sustainable growth.
Lim noted that since 2019, the Penang State Government has implemented the Gender Inclusiveness Policy, incorporating gender considerations in decision-making, planning, budgeting, and administration. The state also practices Gender-Responsive and Participatory Budgeting to ensure public spending benefits women and promotes gender equity. As home to 92 PLCs and thousands of private enterprises, Penang plays a significant role in this national journey as a strategic hub for promoting gender-balanced leadership.
The northern expansion of the 30% Club Malaysia is timely, according to Lim, as it brings this important agenda closer to where business and talent are concentrated. She emphasized that deliberate action is needed to create opportunities for women leaders, remove barriers, and expand leadership potential, noting that gender equality benefits organizations, governance, and society as a whole.
Meanwhile, 30% Club Malaysia Chair Nurul Ain Abdul Latif stated that the Northern debut builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed in December 2024 between 30% Club Malaysia, the Penang Women's Development Corporation (PWDC), and the National Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Malaysia (NAWEM). She explained that with PWDC as a key state partner, the collaboration aligns closely with Penang's broader workforce development, entrepreneurship, and social inclusion priorities, ensuring that leadership diversity progresses in tandem with economic development.
Nurul Ain added that by working closely with state partners and the business community, it ensures that inclusive leadership is not just a national aspiration, but becomes part of how Penang continues to compete and innovate.