Malaysia Highlights Role Of Women In Sports To Accelerate Societal Progress 

By Vijian Paramasivam

PHNOM PENH, Jan 16 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is showcasing to the world that women’s participation in sports can serve as a powerful catalyst for societal change, from uplifting socio-economic conditions to breaking down community barriers.

This is a timely message as governments worldwide increasingly rely on sports to promote gender equality and advance women's rights, expanding their participation in fields such as corporate boardrooms, entrepreneurship, academia, media, and medical sciences.

Unfortunately, thousands of young women around the globe, from Myanmar and Palestine to Afghanistan, remain deprived of access to basic education, healthcare and employment due to patriarchal norms and prolonged conflict.

“Women’s equality is a cornerstone for sustainable socio-economic development in Malaysia. Empowering women not only enhances their personal well-being but also strengthens families, communities and the broader economy. 

“The Malaysian government has implemented several targeted programmes that demonstrate the tangible impact of investing in women’s capabilities, skills and economic participation,” Malaysia’s Youth and Sports Ministry’s Policy and Strategic Planning Division Undersecretary Dr Nazira Abdul Rahman told Bernama. 

Nazria led the Malaysian delegation to the ASEAN-Japan Action on Sport: Gender Equality, a three-day conference held in Siem Reap, Cambodia, from Jan 13 to 15.

Japan will collaborate with ASEAN countries on training and research to promote gender equality through sports.

Gender equality, recognised as a humanitarian issue, is also vital for the ASEAN region, where almost half of the 680 million population is women. 

Many continue to live under the shadows of rural poverty among coastal communities, urban poverty and rising threats of climate change that could stifle their precious livelihoods in remote economies. 

“It is a critical platform for us to ensure that our National Sports Policy and its related action plans are not only relevant to the current global discourse on gender equality but also capable of fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goal 5 mandate.”

“It aims for gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls. We are focused on translating regional action into tangible national strategies,” said Nazira.

She said the workshop holds significant importance for Malaysia as it aligns with the government’s MADANI framework that spearheads inclusivity and social justice. 

“Regionally, it allows Malaysia to collaborate closely with ASEAN member states and Japan, sharing expertise and benchmarking our progress against regional best practices,” she said.

Malaysia has achieved major strides in leadership and elite athletic participation in prominent international sporting events. 

The national target for the involvement of women as technical officials was successfully met in 2024, reaching 30 per cent, according to the ministry. 

In the last five years, at least one woman has been appointed as the Chef de Mission for a major regional or international event, including former national swimmer Nurul Huda Abdullah for the 2025 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand and former national gymnast Farah Ann Abdul Hadi for the 2025 Asian Youth Games in Bahrain. 

Malaysian women athletes’ participation was commendable at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, with equal representation of 13 women and 13 men.

The Thailand SEA Games also witnessed high participation by Malaysian women athletes, with 499 (44 per cent) competing.

“These milestones highlight the growing presence, leadership and competitiveness of Malaysian women on the global stage,” said Nazira.

-- BERNAMA