Malaysia among countries setting an example in global women's leadership
WEF ASEAN 2025 serves as a gathering point for women not just from Malaysia, but across the region and globally.
19 Jun 2025 05:04pm
Malaysia takes centre stage as it hosts the Asean Women's Economic Forum 2025, bringing together women leaders from over 32 countries to discuss empowerment and economic roles. - Bernama photo
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia is among the countries that serve as a global example in providing space and opportunities for women to empower themselves and take on leadership roles, said ASEAN Women's Economic Forum (WEF) 2025 president Datin Dr Hartini Osman.
She said this was one of the main focuses of the forum, which serves as an open, inclusive, and voluntary platform that brings together women from around the world to voice their perspectives and strengthen their roles across various sectors. "Women Leaders Beyond Borders: Shaping the Future of the ASEAN Sheconomy" is the theme for the Asean Women's Economic Forum 2025, a platform dedicated to amplifying women's voices and fostering business and networking opportunities for female entrepreneurs and changemakers.
"WEF ASEAN 2025 serves as a gathering point for women not just from Malaysia, but across the region and globally. It is a voluntary, compassionate, and inclusive space that champions women's right to be heard,' she said.
"The most beautiful part is that they want to learn from Malaysia's example in how we provide space and opportunities for women through this forum,' she told Bernama after the opening ceremony of WEF ASEAN 2025, at the Dewan Perdana, Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), today.
The three-day forum, themed 'Women Leaders Beyond Borders: Shaping the Future of the ASEAN Sheconomy', was officiated by the Prime Minister's wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
According to Hartini, the forum, which involves participants from more than 32 countries, offers valuable opportunities for women entrepreneurs to expand their businesses and build networks through business matching sessions. It also encourages the participation of youth, students, educators, and changemakers to engage and benefit from the platform.
She added that this edition marks the 148th series of the Women's Economic Forum (WEF), which is active in over 150 countries in support of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to gender equality.
Hartini also expressed her gratitude to Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for officiating the forum, describing her speech as deeply moving and resonant with participants, as it reflected values of humanity and compassion.
"She is a remarkable female leader, a symbol of motherhood, love, and truth. She leads by example, speaking on issues related to women, families, and the empowerment of women,' she said.
Touching on the challenges faced by women today, Hartini underscored the importance of unity in advocating for women's aspirations and achieving meaningful societal change.
"When we unite, our collective voice becomes powerful and truly heard. If we work sincerely, with pure intentions for the sake of Allah, then insya-Allah, the wellbeing of women will continue to be uplifted,' she added. - BERNAMA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Barnama
an hour ago
- Barnama
Malaysia Has Proposed To Set Up ASEAN Institute
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek (right) and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir pose for a photo before attending the ASEAN Education Ministers' Roundtable (#EduRoundtables2025) and related events held here today. -- fotoBERNAMA (2025) COPYRIGHT RESERVED LANGKAWI, June 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has proposed the establishment of an ASEAN Institute to consolidate expertise across various fields among member countries in the region. Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir stated that this proposal was among the topics discussed during the ASEAN Higher Education Ministers' Roundtable here today. "Although certain countries have conducted studies at their respective university levels, there isn't a more comprehensive institute for all ASEAN member states," he said at a press conference after the roundtable here today. He added that Malaysia has offered to host this ASEAN Institute, given the country's expertise, including through the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (IKMAS) at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Furthermore, he noted that the roundtable also discussed student and academic mobility within the region, including exchange programs that would allow foreign lecturers to teach at educational institutions in Malaysia. "Additionally, we also agreed to establish a body to manage scholarship matters, namely ASEAN-GEMS. This platform will be utilized to seek financial resources among ASEAN member states to provide scholarships," he said. The ASEAN Global Exchange for Mobility and Scholarship (AEAN GEMS) is a one-stop platform for information about regional scholarship and mobility programs throughout the ASEAN region that was launched tonight. This initiative will, among other things, provide access to opportunities and scholarship offers for all ASEAN students, while also supporting regional integration by encouraging youth mobility and cross-border academic exchanges. Zambry further mentioned that other matters discussed included proposals to establish networks and collaborative platforms among ASEAN higher education institutions, and to ensure that all discussion outcomes are elevated to the ASEAN Heads of State Meeting in October.
Malaysian Reserve
an hour ago
- Malaysian Reserve
Domestic tourism expenditure up 25.6% to RM106b in 2024
PUTRAJAYA — Malaysia's domestic tourism sector recorded significant growth in 2024, with total domestic visitor expenditure reaching RM106.7 billion, a 25.6 per cent increase from RM84.9 billion in 2023, according to the Malaysia Domestic Tourism Survey released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) today. Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the growth was driven by higher spending from tourists and day-trippers, registering growth rates of 20.6 per cent and 33.8 per cent, respectively. 'The number of domestic visitors rose by 21.7 per cent to 260.1 million in 2024, compared to 213.7 million the previous year. 'The increase in domestic travel activities was supported by seasonal factors in the first quarter, including Chinese New Year celebrations, Ramadan, Hari Raya Aidilfitri preparations and school holidays, which contributed to higher movement and tourism-related spending,' he said. In terms of transportation modes, 97.6 per cent of domestic visitors used land transport, while air travel accounted for only 2.1 per cent, he said. Mohd Uzir said as for accommodation preferences, 60.4 per cent of tourists stayed with relatives or friends. The proportion of tourists opting for paid accommodation increased, with hotels accounting for 21.7 per cent of overnight stays, while homestay usage rose from 6.7 per cent in 2023 to 8.6 per cent in 2024, he added. 'Visiting relatives and friends remained the primary purpose of domestic travel, contributing 34.6 per cent of total trips in 2024. In contrast, shopping-related trips declined to 27.6 per cent in 2024 from 32.6 per cent the previous year. 'However, shopping remained the largest expenditure category, accounting for 37.4 per cent of total domestic tourism spending, followed by food and beverages at 16.2 per cent and vehicle fuel purchases at 12.7 per cent,' he said. Mohd Uzir said Selangor was the most visited state, attracting 34.5 million domestic visitors, followed by Kuala Lumpur with 27 million and Perak with 21.8 million domestic visitors. 'Overall, Malaysia's domestic tourism sector in 2024 demonstrated robust and rapid growth, driven by an increase in visitor numbers, higher spending and evolving travel patterns. 'While visiting relatives remains dominant, growing interest in recreation-based tourism, programmes and experiences reflects a dynamic and diverse market,' he said. — BERNAMA
Malaysia Sun
2 hours ago
- Malaysia Sun
International trade must be transparent, predictable
KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 (Xinhua) -- International trade must be governed by transparent rules and legal predictability, not by unilateralism or coercive economic measures, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said here on Thursday. In his keynote speech at the 38th Asia-Pacific Roundtable (APR) held in Kuala Lumpur, Anwar said that strengthening multilateralism through ASEAN and engaging with a diverse range of partners, such as China, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and BRICS, will help countries seeking constructive cooperation to weather the storm of geopolitical tensions. "The imposition of unilateral tariffs by the U.S. is a significant challenge to our nation and the region as we are deeply plugged into global supply chains. International trade must be governed by transparent rules and legal predictability, not by unilateralism or coercive economic measures," he said. "Malaysia's strategy of active non-alignment is a deliberate and principled framework, designed to maximize strategic flexibility, preserve decision-making autonomy, and engage all partners on our own terms... Malaysia has reached out to like-minded partners in the Global South to bridge regions, build collective resolve and promote shared prosperity," he added. Anwar also stressed the importance of avoiding bloc confrontation, emphasizing that dialogue and engagement are the only ways to ensure continued economic growth and stable relations between nations. "The future of this region lies not in hardened blocs or fragile balances, but in a security architecture that is inclusive, predictable, and anchored in rules, one in which active non-alignment is not merely tolerated but enabled to thrive," he said. The APR, which runs from June 17 to June 19, is the signature international conference of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia.
