WOMEN’s empowerment must go beyond discussion and translate into real economic participation, leadership and decision-making power, says Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Speaking at the World Women Economic and Business Summit 2026 held at Shangri-La Rasa Sayang Hotel today, Chow said women already play a central role in Malaysia’s economy and will be even more crucial in shaping future growth as industries evolve.
He noted that Malaysia’s female labour force participation rate has reached a record 56.5 per cent, while women are leading around 242,000 micro and small enterprises nationwide.
However, he said challenges remain, particularly in business leadership, access to opportunities and representation at decision-making levels.
“Women are already making significant contributions to Malaysia’s economy, but we must continue to address the gaps that still exist,” he said.
Organised by think-tank KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific, the summit, themed “Women Shaping the Next Economy: Innovation, Resilience and Inclusive Growth, brought together about 200 business leaders, entrepreneurs and policymakers from across the region to examine how women are shaping the future economy and driving sustainable growth across sectors.
Chow said women are fundamental to Penang’s socio-economic development, contributing across manufacturing, services, technology, public service and the informal economy. He added that women also form the backbone of community life, from home-based businesses to caregiving roles.
He highlighted several state initiatives aimed at strengthening women’s participation, including the Women and Family Development Committee (JPWK) across all 40 constituencies, which has mobilised around 600 women leaders at the grassroots level.
He also cited the Wanita Jana Rezeki programme, which helps lower-income women generate income, and Penang’s pioneering adoption of gender-responsive and participatory budgeting.
“Women’s empowerment must extend beyond discussions here today and be felt in everyday life — in neighbourhoods, workplaces, and local economies. It must be reflected in both the journey of a young tech entrepreneur and the livelihood of an auntie selling char kuey teow who sustains her family through her small business. This is where policy must meet the people,” he said.
Under the Penang2030 vision, the state has set a target of 40 per cent women’s participation in entrepreneurship by 2030, with 81 per cent progress achieved so far — 4,052 participants out of a target of 5,000. The state is also working towards training 2,000 women leaders annually, with 3,916 already having benefited from leadership programmes.
Despite progress, Chow pointed to the Malaysia Gender Gap Index 2025, which places the national score at 0.708 and Penang at 0.700, saying more work is needed to close remaining disparities.
He also raised concern over women’s political representation, noting that women currently make up only 13.5 per cent of Members of Parliament and 12 per cent of state assemblypersons nationwide. Malaysia’s long-standing 30 per cent target for women in politics, introduced in 2009, has yet to be achieved.
Chow urged political parties to institutionalise the target in candidate selection processes and strengthen support systems such as mentoring and access to resources for emerging women leaders.
As Penang strengthens its position in semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, digital technology and innovation, he said women must be included across the entire ecosystem as entrepreneurs, engineers, investors, executives, innovators and policymakers.
“Research consistently shows that diverse leadership leads to better decisions and stronger organisational performance. Supporting women is therefore both an economic and strategic priority,” he said.
Chow added that empowerment must be felt at all levels of society, from tech entrepreneurs to small business owners, stressing the need for policies to translate into tangible impact.
He also encouraged men, including himself, to “listen more and speak less” in discussions on women’s empowerment, saying meaningful ideas often emerge when space is given for others to be heard. This drew applause from the audience, particularly the women.
Chow said the state government will continue to support women through funding, capacity building and inclusive policies, and hoped the summit would generate practical solutions and partnerships to advance women’s development in Penang and beyond.
Also present were KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific president Tan Sri Michael Yeoh and deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Iqbal Rawther, who is also the chairman of the Economic Club of Kuala Lumpur, former state executive councillor Chong Eng, and several distinguished guests, including consul generals.
Meanwhile, Mohd Iqbal said that in a landscape of constant change, women are no longer just participants adapting to the economy but are also actively shaping it.
He added that women-led enterprises and professionals are playing a growing role in innovation, particularly in technology, science and corporate leadership, bringing fresh perspectives that help redefine markets and consumer trends.
“Without the contributions of women as decision-makers, creators and founders, the tech-driven ‘Next Economy’ will remain incomplete and narrow-sighted,” he said.
He also highlighted women’s role in resilience, noting that women-led organisations often demonstrate strong adaptability, risk management and long-term sustainability, particularly in navigating post-pandemic recovery, inflationary pressures and geopolitical uncertainties.
“Women do not just weather the storm; they build the structures that withstand them,” he said.
On inclusive growth, he stressed that economies cannot reach their full potential if half the population is left behind. He said women’s economic empowerment delivers broader social benefits, as women tend to reinvest earnings into education, healthcare and community development.
Michael Yeoh said women have been making their mark across multiple sectors in recent years and are expected to play an even greater role in the future economy.
“The WWEBS 2026 demonstrated the immense potential of women to shape the future economy through innovation, leadership and resilience. The discussions throughout the day reinforced the importance of building inclusive ecosystems that empower women at every level of society,” he said.
The summit also featured distinguished speakers, including Ambassador Maria Castillo Fernandez, EU Special Envoy for the Indo-Pacific; H.E. Mrs Nineta Bărbulescu, Ambassador of Romania to Malaysia; Philippa Cordi of the Australian High Commission; Datuk Siobhan Das, CEO of AMCHAM Malaysia; and Hemalatha Murugiah, Chief Executive of INTI International College Penang, with Tan Sri Dr Munir Majid as the moderator.
The ceremony also saw the presentation of Excellence Awards recognising outstanding contributions by women leaders, as well as certificates of appreciation to Chmiel Global Advisory Sdn Bhd for its role as corporate partner and Tenaga Nasional Berhad as supporting sponsor.
The award recipients were Datuk Dr Nora A Manaf (World Top 10 Women Business Leader), Prof Datuk Ts Dr Massila Kamalruddin (World Women Empowerment Impact Award); Hemalatha Murugiah (World Women CEO Icon Leadership Award); Nabi Kate S.L. Ng (World Outstanding Women Entrepreneur Award); Datuk Prof Mandy Chew Siok Cheng (World Outstanding Women Entreprenuer Excellence Award); Soon Lay Ean (Outstanding Women Business Icon Excellence Award), Sandy Woo (World Outstanding Women CEO Leadership Excellence Award), Dr Jane Lim See Yin (World Outstanding Women in Education Excellence Award), and Caryn Loh (World Outstanding Women Business Leadership Excellence Award).
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Law Suun Ting
Video by Siew Chia En