Gender Is Not A Barrier For Sarawak Women To Succeed
KUCHING: Gender differences are no longer an obstacle for women in Sarawak to achieve success, including holding key positions in the state’s development.
Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg said the long-held stigma that only men can be leaders and policy-makers in the state no longer exists. Instead, opportunities are now open to everyone regardless of gender, based on individual merit.
“In the structure of the Sarawak civil service, we have provided space for women to make decisions at the state level. We now have a new Deputy Sarawak Secretary (Administration) who is a woman.
“Additionally, this is the first time the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) has a female Chief Executive Officer. As SEDC is an important institution in Sarawak’s economy, the role of women is needed to further expand our economic development,” he said.
He made these remarks when delivering his speech at the International Women’s Day 2026 Borneo Zone Celebration in Kuching on Wednesday.
He added that with the introduction of modern economic sectors such as green energy, hydrogen, the digital economy, aerospace, the creative industry and high technology, women’s participation is also essential.
“We need female engineers, and Alhamdulillah, there are now many women engineers in the Public Works Department (JKR). We need women scientists, women data experts who will become data analysts, as well as women technology entrepreneurs and women leaders in every one of these new sectors.
“There is no difference between women and men when it comes to achieving success, as everything is based on individual merit,” he said.
Elaborating further, he emphasised that the role of women goes beyond helping to develop the state. Women also play a vital role as drivers of the family economy, custodians of cultural heritage and pillars of social stability within their respective communities.
Also present were Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian, Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar, Sarawak Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, deputy ministers, and other distinguished guests. -UKASnews
