FIVE YEARS GIVEN TO INCREASE WOMEN DECISION-MAKERS TO 30% REASONABLE - MSIAN MINISTER

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) - The five-year period given to the
corporate sector to increase the number of women at the decision-making level is
reasonable and achievable, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister
Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

She said this was because currently, many women had the talent, potential,
qualifications and experience needed to be at the decision-making level in this
sector.

"Based on studies done by other countries which practise the same policy,
having women on the board of directors or as chairmen has been found to have
raised productivity of the companies.

"It also does not threaten the security market, the corporate field or
businesses in Malaysia. In fact, we've seen growth in these companies."

Shahrizat said this after the announcement on the policy of at least 30 per
cent women at the decision-making level in the corporate sector in Parliament,
here, today.

Najib had said that the corporate sector was given a five-year transitional
period to increase the number of women in high positions or on the board of
directors of companies.

Shahrizat said her ministry would soon start a training programme to prepare
women with the potential to sit on boards of directors.

She believed the policy would also be welcomed by the private sector.

"Women represent half of the nation's population and we are a critical
consumer mass, so I don't see why women should be left out in the
decision-making process," she said.