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Barnama
27-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Beyond Tariffs And Trade: ASEAN Summit Spotlights Women's Stories And Strengths
KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 (Bernama) -- Roads leading to the heart of Kuala Lumpur are currently lined with ASEAN and member state flags, along with Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship logo and its unmistakable theme of 'Inclusivity and Sustainability'. It should be noted that women make up slightly over half of ASEAN's population - at around 334 million of almost 700 million people, or 49.9 per cent. And for these women, the stakes go beyond geopolitics. But a deeper question pulses beneath the ceremonial surface: What does this mean for women, especially? Everybody knows the ongoing 46th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in the capital gather heads of state and high-ranking officials to strategise on countering sweeping US tariffs and fostering multilateral cooperation. Yet, on the sidelines of the Summit, a session featuring a trio of 'girl bosses' was expected to be a serious discussion towards ways to break the glass ceiling. The 46th ASEAN Summit, chaired by Malaysia, conjures up a wave of regional anticipation in looking for solutions and countering challenges, such as the bloc's reaction and strategies in facing US tariffs, multilateral cooperation and fostering cooperation via the tripartite inaugural summit with China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries. ASEAN women are employed across various sectors, formal or informal and across the Southeast Asian region. Rightly, their voices in the halls of government, boardrooms, educational institutions, communities and homes need to be heard. Somehow, it evolved into a heart-warming exchange of stories and shared experiences in balancing household responsibilities and a professional career, which the writer can relate to. The Global Power Hour: Women Pioneering Change Across Continents session, held at the ASEAN Women Economic Summit 2025 (AWES 2025) - featuring UOB Malaysia CEO Ng Wei Wei, Indonesia's Vice Minister of Trade Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri, and Cambodia's Minister of Commerce Chan Nimul, also hogged the limelight besides the ASEAN and related summits. The session was moderated by Malaysia's Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. Though Tengku Zafrul was in the minority in terms of gender at AWES, he deftly guided the discussion, allowing the panellists' voices and stories to take centre stage. His moderation deserved praise for its sensitivity and respect, letting authenticity, rather than agendas, shape the tone. Among the many issues discussed and experiences shared, Chan Nimul said, despite bringing 24 years of experience and having played a pivotal role in advancing Cambodia's trade agenda on the global stage, she is still expected to keep her household in order. 'I walk into the ministerhood knowing my battleground. I know what I'm expected of. I know what the public opinion of me will be. I knew the battlegrounds I would have to navigate. 'There are other new ministers like me, but they're men…from my perspective, they face three main battlefronts. I face four. First, managing my own institution or house. Second, working across ministries. Third, representing the country internationally, and fourth, being a woman in leadership. 'I'm a mother, a daughter, and a woman in a high office. I thought this would be a disadvantage, that I was starting from a weaker position, but I was wrong. What I saw as a weakness became my strength, my soft power. People underestimated me, but that only motivated me more. That's what helped elevate me,' she said. Her sharing immediately resonated with the audience, drawing a strong connection, especially among the women in the conference hall, including this writer, who also manages a full household, to nod in agreement. Indonesian Deputy Minister of Trade Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri also offered a powerful reflection on the multi-dimensional lives of women in leadership. 'Many women today are constantly balancing multiple roles. Some of us are wives, mothers, daughters, and at the same time, we may also be ministers, CEOs, or hold other high-level responsibilities,' she said. Her message resonated not just with the women in the room, but with anyone who has juggled overlapping identities. 'The ability to switch between these roles with grace is essential, and it requires flexibility on a daily basis,' she said. For Dyah Roro Esti, empathy is at the heart of that ability - not just as a leadership trait, but as a survival tool. 'Balancing cultural expectations while leading with empathy is something many of us navigate daily. Empathy allows us to step into someone else's shoes and understand what different circumstances mean for them. When we lead with empathy, we lead with the heart, and that, to me, is profoundly meaningful,' she remarked. Dyah Roro Esti also highlighted the importance of understanding when to "wear" different hats in different social settings and distinguish her roles with family, with friends, or in professional environments. 'We, as women, don't have to be in 'professional mode' all the time. We are allowed to take off certain hats and simply be present in the roles that matter most in a given moment. 'This act of knowing when and how to shift between roles is where empathy truly comes in. It allows us to show up authentically and meaningfully, without feeling burdened. In fact, embracing these different roles makes the journey more fulfilling,' she added. Perhaps ASEAN can change the narrative? While the now 10-member group focuses on trade, for the first time in Kuala Lumpur, there's this side event where a special conference on women was held. Women's labour force participation in ASEAN averages at 48 per cent, in Malaysia this is around 56.2 per cent, while in ASEAN, only 27 per cent of senior management positions are held by women. According to Tengku Zafrul, Malaysia is set to establish ASEAN's first Women's Economic Empowerment Centre in Kuala Lumpur, to ensure the bloc's potential and opportunities are accessible to all, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), youth and women. With the country's ASEAN 2025 Chairmanship theme 'Inclusivity and Sustainability', I find myself looking forward to more such platforms. Perhaps this is the beginning of a more inclusive ASEAN - one that truly listens to its women. -- BERNAMA BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies. Follow us on social media : Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio Twitter : @ @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial TikTok : @bernamaofficial
New Straits Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
UOB Malaysia reaffirms support for Asean growth and inclusive leadership
KUALA LUMPUR: UOB Malaysia has reaffirmed its commitment to Asean's growth, highlighting inclusive leadership and the empowerment of women in entrepreneurship, leadership and sustainability as key to unlocking the region's full potential. The statement comes as UOB Group marks its 90th anniversary. UOB Malaysia chief executive officer Ng Wei Wei said women entrepreneurs, like their male counterparts, face barriers in accessing financing, knowledge, digital tools and networks needed to scale their businesses and navigate a fast-changing digital economy. "We set up The UOB FinLab programme in 2019 to help SMEs grow. In recent years, we began focusing on women entrepreneurs across Malaysia and Singapore. "Through The FinLab, we have helped 1,200 of them to learn new digital tools and skills, navigate the economy, grow their businesses, and more importantly, build a strong ecosystem that helps them expand their networks," she said during the panel session titled "Global Power Hour: Women Pioneering Change Across Continents" held here yesterday. The session was part of the Asean Women Economic Summit 2025 (AWES 2025) and was moderated by Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Utama Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz. Ng shared the stage with Indonesia's vice minister of trade Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri and Cambodia's minister of commerce Chan Nimul. Themed "Empowering Women, Energising Asean: Pioneering Economic Integration for a Resilient Tomorrow", AWES 2025 underlined the importance of placing women at the heart of Asean's economic transformation amid global uncertainty and digital disruption. The two-day inaugural summit was held alongside the 46th Asean Summit under Malaysia's 2025 Chairmanship. It drew more than 700 delegates from government, business and civil society to chart a more inclusive and resilient economic future. UOB Malaysia was the main sponsor of AWES 2025, with Kuok Brothers Sdn Bhd as the empowerment partner.
Barnama
27-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
UOB Malaysia Reaffirms Support For ASEAN Growth And Inclusive Leadership
KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 (Bernama) -- UOB Malaysia has reaffirmed its commitment to ASEAN's growth, highlighting inclusive leadership and the empowerment of women in entrepreneurship, leadership and sustainability as key to unlocking the region's full potential. The statement comes as UOB Group marks its 90th anniversary. UOB Malaysia chief executive officer Ng Wei Wei said women entrepreneurs, like their male counterparts, face barriers in accessing financing, knowledge, digital tools and networks needed to scale their businesses and navigate a fast-changing digital economy. 'We set up The UOB FinLab programme in 2019 to help SMEs grow. In recent years, we began focusing on women entrepreneurs across Malaysia and Singapore. 'Through The FinLab, we have helped 1,200 of them to learn new digital tools and skills, navigate the economy, grow their businesses, and more importantly, build a strong ecosystem that helps them expand their networks,' she said during the panel session titled 'Global Power Hour: Women Pioneering Change Across Continents' held here yesterday. The session was part of the ASEAN Women Economic Summit 2025 (AWES 2025) and was moderated by Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Utama Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz. Ng shared the stage with Indonesia's vice minister of trade Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri and Cambodia's minister of commerce Chan Nimul. Themed 'Empowering Women, Energising ASEAN: Pioneering Economic Integration for a Resilient Tomorrow', AWES 2025 underlined the importance of placing women at the heart of ASEAN's economic transformation amid global uncertainty and digital disruption. The two-day inaugural summit was held alongside the 46th ASEAN Summit under Malaysia's 2025 Chairmanship. It drew more than 700 delegates from government, business and civil society to chart a more inclusive and resilient economic future.
Barnama
25-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Sarawak To Play Key Role In ASEAN Power Grid
GENERAL Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg poses for a photo with UOB Malaysia chief executive officer Ng Wei Wei (front, third from left) and founder and vice chairman of the Women Leadership Foundation Datuk Zunaidah Idris (front, second from right) during a walkabout at the ASEAN Women Economic Summit 2025 (AWES 2025), held at a hotel here today. Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg (centre) poses for a photo with UOB Malaysia chief executive officer Ng Wei Wei (fourth from right) and founder and vice chairman of the Women Leadership Foundation Datuk Zunaidah Idris (fourth from left) during the Sustainable Leadership Fireside Chat â Leading ASEAN's Sustainable and Digital Frontier at the ASEAN Women Economic Summit 2025 (AWES 2025), held at a hotel here today. By Aisha Hani Nor Azmir and Harizah Hanim KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 (Bernama) -- Sarawak is stepping up plans to deeply integrate into the ASEAN Power Grid, said Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. He said the East Malaysian state has been supplying electricity to West Kalimantan, Indonesia, for the past six years, and it is currently in the process of supplying electricity to Brunei. "Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) has asked me to study the possibility of supplying power from Sarawak to Sabah and to connect to Brunei. "Sarawak will play its part to contribute to the ASEAN Grid," he said at the Sustainable Leadership Fireside Chat-Leading ASEAN's Sustainable and Digital Frontier at the ASEAN Women Economic Summit 2025 (AWES 2025) held at a hotel (Shangri-La) here today. Abang Johari said Sarawak is also actively enhancing its grid infrastructure to strengthen power distribution across the state and beyond. Sarawak has targeted to generate 10 gigawatts (GW) of energy production by 2030 and 15 GW by 2035. The session was moderated by UOB Malaysia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ng Wei Wei.
The Star
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
UOB Malaysia partners with Bursa Malaysia to support SMEs sustainability efforts
UOB Malaysia's chief executive officer Ng Wei Wei (left) and Bursa Malaysia chief executive officer Datuk Fad'l Mohamed (right). KUALA LUMPUR: United Overseas Bank (Malaysia) Bhd (UOB Malaysia) has partnered with Bursa Malaysia Bhd to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in adopting sustainable practices and advancing their decarbonisation journey. In a joint statement, UOB Malaysia and Bursa Malaysia said SMEs participating in the bank's sustainability accelerator programme 2.0 (SAP 2.0) will have access to the bourse's centralised sustainability intelligence (CSI) solution under this collaboration. They said the access would reduce the complexities of emissions calculation and facilitate the uptake of relevant decarbonisation solutions. UOB Malaysia's chief executive officer (CEO) Ng Wei Wei said that in addition to enhanced suites of SME-centric solutions available via the SAP 2.0, the bank would fund Bursa's CSI solution's subscription fees for its SME clients. "Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reporting can be a daunting aspect of the decarbonisation journey, and by lowering this barrier and helping them calculate and report their GHG emissions more effectively, we hope to empower more SMEs to transition. "I truly believe that strong public-private collaboration is essential to help businesses to decarbonise,' said Ng. According to the statement, the collaboration aims to better equip participating SMEs to meet growing sustainability demands from stakeholders, including large customers like multinational corporations and public-listed companies (PLCs), for GHG emissions data for their "Scope 3' supply chain emissions reporting. Meanwhile, Bursa Malaysia's CEO Datuk Fad'l Mohamed said this collaboration marks a significant step forward in expanding its CSI ecosystem to benefit a wider group of companies. "Just as our CSI solution has empowered PLCs to meet disclosure obligations and guide their decarbonisation, we are now extending the same capabilities to SMEs, enabling them to progress on their sustainability journey,' he said. - Bernama
