Latest news with #Constitution(Amendment)Act2024
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Honing skills of women in the boardroom
WHEN women leaders are told their ideas cannot be implemented, they should continue to pursue them without giving up, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh says. 'When you are told something cannot be done, ask why. 'Is it because no one has done it before? It doesn't mean it cannot be done; maybe you can be the one who finally implements it,' she said during the third edition of Deloitte Malaysia's Board-Ready Women (BRW) programme 2025 at Menara LGB, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur. Siew Ming says it is important to have a circle of people who will speak the truth. Hannah cited the issue of automatic citizenship for children born to Malaysian mothers and foreign fathers under the Constitution (Amendment) Act 2024. She explained that in 2022, both Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional included this matter of citizenship in their election manifestos. 'When the unity government was formed, this issue was one of common interest between both parties, which led to the reform.' She said this was an example of how a rejected idea was ultimately successful because it was continuously championed. Hannah also advised participants to practise what they preach, saying that employees expect their bosses to live by the values they promote. She noted that with social media, people were held accountable for what occurred in their private life once they became public figures. She said that even she was not free from public judgment. 'I work seven days a week. Sports events mostly happen on weekends, and when I take just an hour to shop with the little free time I get, I am questioned about why I'm not at work. 'Similarly, board members and directors work around the clock and have their own challenges,' she said, adding that a woman leader's performance sets the benchmark for the next one. BRW's programme leader Siti Hajar Osman said women now held 29.7% of board seats across Malaysian companies, a significant leap from just 14% a decade ago. Hamidah advises participants to continue learning in areas they lack knowledge. Among the top 100 public-listed companies, the figure is 33.1%, reflecting a growing recognition of the value women bring to leadership, she said. 'The call to increase leadership diversity goes beyond social responsibility – it's a strategic imperative,' she said, adding that the programme helped to drive gender parity, innovation in leadership and a sustainable talent pipeline. Since its inception in 2023, over 50 women leaders had graduated from BRW where the programme equipped them with the technical expertise, strategic insights and soft skills needed to thrive in boardrooms. The programme is run in collaboration with BoardRoom Malaysia, Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM) and 30% Club Malaysia. It offers participants industry insights into the latest trends, technical thought leadership and essential soft skills to meet the evolving demands of corporate governance. Participants also benefit from exclusive access to board decision-makers, industry leaders and knowledge partners through networking opportunities. Among the speakers at the event was Maxis independent non-executive director Datuk Hamidah Naziadin, who encouraged women leaders to continue learning in areas where they lack knowledge. 'I was not good in financial matters. In 2024, I signed up for ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants). Keep learning,' she advised. Another speaker, PETRONAS Chemicals Group senior independent non-executive director Yeoh Siew Ming, said it was important to have a circle of people who would tell you the truth, as this was crucial for the decision-making process. She said there would always be new things to learn and keep abreast of, with artificial intelligence (AI). 'I even learned chemistry later in life to understand things better. 'The more we spend time on something, the better we become at it,' Siew Ming said, adding that during the Covid-19 pandemic she took up golf which helped her find common ground with her male counterparts. BRW is a flagship initiative under Deloitte's 'Global Boardroom' programme that aims to prepare more women for boardroom roles.
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Home Ministry approves nearly 2,000 overseas-born children's citizenship applications
KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry has approved a total of 1,980 citizenship applications for Malaysian children born overseas, the Dewan Rakyat was told today. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the Constitution (Amendment) Act 2024, which allows both Malaysian mothers and fathers to confer citizenship to their children born abroad, is still pending full implementation. He said that while the amendment was passed by the Dewan Rakyat last year, it must go through several procedural steps before it can take effect. "After the constitutional amendment passed, the issue of children born abroad to Malaysian mothers married to foreign spouses will be resolved automatically — or by operation of law. "However, this isn't yet in effect. "We still need to secure the effective date, which requires the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's assent, as stated in Section 1(2). That is the current status," he said. Saifuddin was responding to Chiew Choon Man (PH–Miri), who asked about the latest guidelines for Malaysian children born overseas following the constitutional amendment, specifically whether they need to reapply. He said that until the amendment takes effect, Malaysian mothers with foreign spouses may continue to apply for their children's citizenship through the existing process. These applications will be handled under Article 15(2) of the Federal Constitution and can be submitted at any National Registration Department (NRD) office nationwide or at Malaysian diplomatic missions abroad. Regarding the Malaysian Citizenship Regulations 1964, Saifuddin said the revision is expected to be completed by September or October this year. He added that the ministry needs time to review and refine the 57 clauses in the regulations, after which several procedural updates will follow. "We will then need to amend the forms, as these applications will be made online. "This is because the system used by Malaysian representative offices abroad still relies on outdated forms and formats. So, this process must be carried out carefully. "We don't expect the process to extend beyond mid or end of next year, although this timeline remains subject to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's assent," he said.
