PM: Hire more women

Wednesday October 3, 2012

By LOH FOON FONG foonfong@thestar.com.my

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PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has challenged public-listed companies to appoint more women to their board of directors.

He said that there are about 200 capable women who have been trained by the Government for such tasks.

The public sector has appointed many women as top decision makers, and it was now up to the private sector to follow suit, he added.

“Don't give the excuse that we have no women. Yes, we do. Ask the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry for the list of women who can serve as directors,” the Prime Minister said at the National Women's Day Celebration 2012 yesterday.

Tribute to women: Najib and Rosmah sharing a light moment with the Anugerah Tokoh Wanita recipients (from left) Puan Seri Sukumari Sekhar, Datuk F.R. Bhupalan, Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Heng Seai Kie, Puan Seri Professor Datuk Dr Fatimah Hamid Don and the Ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Dr Noorul Ainur Mohd Nur during the celebration.

The ministry's Malaysian Directors' Academy had targeted about 200 competent and experienced women to be trained and offered as potential candidates for the boards of directors of companies by December this year.

A total of RM50mil has been allocated in Budget 2013 to, among others, train 500 women as board members under the Women Director's Programme.

Najib also hoped that more companies and government departments would set up childcare centres as employers would be given a double deduction on the allowance or subsidies provided to the employees and expenses for the maintenance of the centres.

“We hope that these measures will enable more women to join the workforce,” he said, adding that currently only 46% of women work.

The ministry's NAM Institute for the Empowerment of Women director Tan Sri Dr Rafiah Salim said that to date, about 400 candidates have registered with the Women Directors' Registry, with 100 of them trained and ready for board placement.

Securities Commission market oversight director Hasnah Omar said the programme was timely, given the fact that women make up more than 50% of the country's population.

Among the 100 are First Principles Sdn Bhd principal consultant Datin Meha Sivamohan, Sibu Water Board deputy general manager Alice Jawan, AJA EQS Certification Malaysia Sdn Bhd group CEO Jacqueline Francis, Shearn Delamore & Co advocate and solicitor Cheow Wai Yee and Negri Sembilan Pardons Board member Tunku Datuk Nazihah Tunku Mohd Rus.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/10/3/nation/12118387&sec=nation