KUCHING: Women empowerment will be stepped up further as Women’s Leadership Apprenticeship Initiative (PERANTIS) programme is expanded to reach out to a target of 5,000 women nationwide.
Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said that the programme was introduced following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s allocation of RM5 million to address the deep-rooted gender gap in leadership during the International Women’s Day 2024.
“I am happy to announce that this year, we are not only continuing the PERANTIS programme but will be expanding it significantly.
“We are increasing the target to include 100 women leaders nationwide, each receiving up to RM50,000 for their programmes and we aim to reach 5,000 women participants in total in 2025,” she said.
She said this in her speech during the Women in Orange Economy (WIOE) Leadership Conference 2025 at the Sarawak State Library here today.
Nnancy added despite women’s academic achievements as reflected in a Gender Gap Index score of 1.067 in education, their representation in economic and political leadership remains disproportionately low.
“This initiative aims to reverse that trend by providing mentorship, resources, and platforms for women leaders to thrive.
“Out of many applications, 25 programmes were approved, benefitting a total of 1,247 participants, with a budget allocation of RM1.2 million.
“The rigorous selection process, led by 14 expert panellists, ensured that the most impactful and innovative proposals were chosen,” she said.
She added that the selected programmes reflect the wide-ranging potential of women’s leadership in Malaysia.
“These initiatives address various areas, including leadership development, economic empowerment, youth leadership and education, politics and advocacy along with today’s programme involving creative industries,” she said.
For the record, she said that the initiative aimed at empowering Malaysian women through the Women in Orange Economy (WIOE) programme under the Women’s Leadership Apprenticeship Initiative (PERANTIS), one of the initiatives by the Women’s Development Department (JPW).
“Today’s conference brings together leaders like Dr Soo Wincci, Dr Anna Sue, and Zaharah Malim to share insights into fields like fashion, music, and entrepreneurship.
“The exhibition booths and artistic performances further underscore the immense potential of women in this dynamic sector,” she said.
Nancy said the ultimate goal of these programmes is to ensure that women are not only visible and empowered but also fully prepared to take on leadership roles across all sectors.
“By investing in initiatives like PERANTIS, we are laying the foundation and creating an environment for a future where women lead with strength, resilience, and innovation,” she said.
