RM10 Million Allocated for Women’s Empowerment Programmes

18 September 2025

KOTA KINABALU: The State Government has allocated approximately RM10 million to the Sabah Women’s Affairs Department (JHEWA) for the implementation of various initiatives aimed at developing and empowering capable women leaders in the state.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor said the government attaches great importance to women’s development in Sabah and will continue to ensure that women are given equal opportunities and benefits.

“In line with this, more women have been appointed to policymaking and decision-making roles across various sectors, including the public service and government agencies."

"I hope women’s empowerment efforts, such as this symposium, will be implemented continuously and supported not only by the government but also by the private sector, civil society organisations, and local communities."

"We aim to nurture a generation of Sabah women who are resilient, knowledgeable, highly skilled, and capable of leading not only within their communities but also at the state, national, and international levels,” he said in his speech at the Sabah Women Leaders Symposium, held at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) today.

His speech was delivered by Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk James Ratib.

The Chief Minister acknowledged that challenges remain, including the disparity in employment opportunities between men and women, issues of indirect gender discrimination, as well as cultural and societal perceptions that at times limit women’s full potential.

He added that ensuring fair access to education, skills training, and economic opportunities also remains a priority requiring continuous attention from all parties.

Hajiji explained that the women’s empowerment initiative had progressed through several phases leading up to the symposium. These included the Engagement with Sabah Women’s Leaders programme held on 16 June 2025, which was attended by 1,300 women.

From this, 300 participants were selected to join the Sabah Women’s Lab Phase 1 workshop. During Phase 2: Incubator Lab, a more rigorous screening and selection process took place, with 75 participants successfully presenting their projects and papers.

He congratulated those who had completed both phases, as they will now be selected to join a special empowerment project, Global Women @ SABAH (GLOW@SABAH).

“I am confident that this one-day Sabah Women Leaders Symposium will leave a positive and lasting impact on all the remarkable women who took part in the programme,” he said.

The symposium, attended by about 3,000 women from across Sabah, focused primarily on three key areas, education, the economy, and leadership (including politics), in line with the National Women’s Policy.