ACT QUICKLY TO ACHIEVE GREATER HEIGHTS, SAYS MALAYSIAN PM'S WIFE

BY MUIN ABDUL MAJID

DUBAI, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Prime Minister's wife Rosmah Mansor on
Monday issued a clarion call for women to act fast if they aspire to attain
leadership positions and remain steadfast in facing the many challenges in
achieving that goal.

Outlining the ingredients in moving forward, she said political will was
urgently needed to put in place and implement policies including monitoring
mechanisms that would enable a bigger role for women in leadership and
management.

"Women must develop networks and cooperate, share insights, knowledge,
resources and experiences in order for us to progress. Women must seize the
opportunities that are open to them," said the wife of Malaysian Prime Minister
Najib Razak.

Rosmah said this in her keynote address at the Women in Leadership Forum
here which is being attended by around 300 women leaders from political,
academic and business sectors from all over the world.

She advised women to stop behaving in ways that could adversely affect their
future.

"I'm sad to say that sometimes as women, we're our own worst enemy; we do
more to damage each other especially when we see another woman as a competitor.

"We must stop this destructive behavior. We must support one another and not
pull each other down. It's time for us to make ourselves be heard and seen and
be much more than what we're today," she said.

Rosmah said that in the work place, women should be empowered through a
culture of innovation that would help them develop strategies and skills for
them to be effective leaders.

"And the media must also contribute by eliminating gender stereotyping,
particularly in advertisements and textbooks so as to provide positive
reinforcement for greater leadership and managerial role for women," she said.

She also shared with her audience Malaysia's story in advancing the position
of women.

Rosmah said the landmark establishment of a full-fledged ministry in-charge
of women in 2001 showed remarkable astuteness and far-sightedness on the part of
the Malaysian government in gauging contemporary demands and giving weight to
the voice of women.

According to her, Malaysian women are an important component of the human
capital of the country comprising 49.1 per cent of the total population and with
a labour force participation rate at 45.7 per cent.

"In the legal profession, accountancy and dentistry, women have equaled, if
not surpassed, the number of men entering those professions," she said.

In addition, she said that today nearly 70 per cent of students in Malaysian
universities were girls pursuing various courses.

There has also been progressive increase of women's participation at top
management positions and decision-making levels in the public and private
sectors between 13.5 per cent and 26 per cent from 2004 to 2008.
-- BERNAMA