KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said the State Government has allocated about RM10 million to the Sabah Women’s Affairs Department (JHEWA) for the implementation of various programmes to develop, and empower capable women leaders in the state.
He said the State Government places importance on women development in Sabah and will continue to ensure that women are given equal opportunities and benefits.
“In view of this, more women have been appointed to participate in policy and decisionmaking in various sectors, including the public service sector and government agencies.
“I hope women empowerment efforts such as this symposium would be implemented continuously and supported by all quarters, not only from the government but also from the private sector, civil society organisations, and local communities.
“We hope 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 at the Sabah Women Leaders Symposium at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here today.
His speech was delivered by Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk James Ratib.
The Chief Minister said that there were still challenges that need to be addressed, among them the gap in employment opportunities between men and women, issues of indirect gender discrimination, as well as cultural barriers and societal perceptions that sometimes limit the true potential of women.
In addition, the challenge of ensuring fair access to education, skills training, and economic opportunities also remained a priority that needs continuous attention from all parties, he said.
Hajiji noted that before the symposium, the women’s empowerment programme had gone through several phases, including the Engagement with Sabah Women’s Leaders programme held on June 16, 2025, in which 1,300 women attended.
The next phase involved the Sabah Women’s Lab Phase 1 workshop, in which 300 participants were selected from among the 1,300 who attended the earlier engagement programme.
During the Sabah Women’s Lab Phase 2: Incubator Lab session, he said a more critical screening and selection process was conducted, and 75 participants successfully presented their respective projects and papers.
He congratulated participants who have completed both phases of the Sabah Women’s Lab as they would be selected as participants of the special women’s empowerment project, Global Women @ SABAH (GLOW@SABAH).
“I am confident that this one-day Sabah Women’s Leader Symposium will have a positive impact on all the remarkable women who attended and participated in the programme,” he said.
Participated by about 3,000 women from across Sabah, the primary focus of the symposium’s agenda centred on three key areas, namely education, economy, and leadership (politics) in line with the National Women’s Policy.-pr/BNN
