KOTA KINABALU: Political parties remain the key gatekeepers to women’s representation in Malaysia, with the lack of nominations for winnable seats continuing to limit the number of women reaching top decision-making positions.
Women’s leadership advocate Cheryl Ellron said the gap is visible not only in politics but also in the corporate sector, where women are widely present in the workforce but rarely occupy top leadership roles.
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She noted that while many women hold senior management roles, only a small percentage serve as chief executive officers in major Malaysian companies.
“In many sectors, women are highly qualified and widely present in the workforce, yet the numbers drop sharply at the top,” the market entry consultant said.
Cheryl added that women within political parties are often confined to women’s wings, where they mobilise grassroots support but remain removed from core leadership structures.
“Malaysia has no shortage of capable women. What is needed now is the opportunity for their leadership to be recognised and placed where it can have the greatest impact,” she said.
