MPIC ensures adequate women representation

by AUFA MARDHIAH / pic by TMR FILE

THE Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry (MPIC) reaffirms that its agency will ensure women make up at least 30% of its board members and other positions under the agency, which has been in practice since way before the tabling of Budget 2022.

On Oct 29, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz mentioned that the government urged all the publicly listed companies to appoint at least one woman into its board of directors, in which the enforcement will be implemented on Sept 1, 2022, for big capital companies and June 1, 2023, for other listed companies.

He also agreed that the contribution of women to the economy needs to be strengthened further.

MPIC Minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin (picture) said her ministry greatly recognises the roles played by women and wants to ensure they are given fair representation. “Women have great potential and are very dedicated and often go beyond their expectations to ensure excellence in their work,” she said in a statement yesterday.

On the other hand, MPIC is also working towards offering greater opportunities for youth to take up prominent positions to showcase their abilities.

Currently, there is a total of 38.2% women involved in the decision-making positions in government agencies, while the women representation of board of directors (BoD) in the top 100 public listed companies is at 25.8%.

Meanwhile, in Dewan Rakyat, 15% (33 people) of 220 seats are held by women MPs, with two seats still vacant and 15% (eight women representation) out of 57 members (17 others vacant) in Dewan Negara.

In addition, other women board members in agencies under the MPIC include Datuk Zunaidah Idris (Institute of Malaysian Plantation and Commodities); Datuk Dr Hafsah Hashim (Malaysian Rubber Board) and Datuk Hazimah Zainudin (Malaysian Palm Oil Board), making up a total of 34% of women as chairmen, CEOs and board members.

“I want to stress here that all the women in our agencies are professionals and well qualified. No position was awarded to any of them as a token.

“Therefore, we will continue to ensure fair women representation and urge other ministries to also give women equal opportunities,” added Zuraida.