WOMEN REPRESENTATION IN PRIVATE SECTOR SHOULD BE BASED ON MERIT - FMM

SHAH ALAM (Bernama) - The government's
decision to increase the number of women at the decision-making level in the
private sector should be based on performance and merit rather than quota, said
Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) president, Mustafa Mansur.

Mustafa, who welcomed the decision in principle, said the government
should ensure that only women who were capable enough held top positions in
private companies.

"The decision to raise the number of women at the decision-making level in
private companies must be based on merit. Just because you want to fill up the
quota and you promote someone who is not capable enough, that's wrong. The
government must ensure only the best get the post (to hold positions in
companies)," he told Bernama after attending a dialogue session with member
companies of FMM near here, Tuesday

Mustafa said there were women holding top positions in FMM down the line
and said that the federation encouraged more women to become manufacturers.

Prime Minister Najib Razak Monday said that the Cabinet had approved the
policy to ensure that 30 per cent of women are given opportunities at the
decision-making level in the private sector.

He said the corporate sector had been given a five-year transition period
to raise the number of women as members of the board of directors of companies
and hold top positions in their respective companies.

Najib said the approval of the policy was a continuation of the Policy of
At Least 30 Per Cent Women in the Decision-Making Level in the Public Sector,
announced by the government in 2004, where the achievement had been encouraging.

Meanwhile, FMM Selangor branch chairman Prof Dr James Alfred also felt that
the move to raise the women's participation in private companies should not be
based on quota.

"Every industry treat men and women the same. If you are good, you are good
and there is no disparity. If 100 per cent women are going to be efficient
enough, then it's okay," he said.

The dialogue session conducted by the FMM Selangor Branch was to engage
representatives of member companies and FMM's president and past presidents in
discussions on issues affecting the business and investment environment.

Among the issues discussed was the recent energy price increase,
labour-related issues, efficiency of government delivery and ways to address
corruption, both in the public and private sectors.