Kota Kinabalu: Kapayan Assemblywoman Datuk Jannie Lasimbang urged the State Government to treat women as equal partners in policy development and budget delivery, not merely as beneficiaries of public spending.
Debating the Supplementary Supply Bill 2025 tabled by State Finance Minister, Jannie said the government must ensure that allocations, especially those tied to rural development and social welfare, are used to build long-term capacity among women and marginalised groups.
“We talk about empowering communities, but too often, women are left out of the process.
“They must be involved from the start, in decision-making, implementation and oversight, she said at the State Legislative Assembly, Monday.
She supported the RM68 million allocated to the Ministry of Rural Development but said real impact would only come if a portion of the budget was directly targeted at women’s economic and social needs.
Jannie proposed that part of the funds be used to establish a micro-financing scheme for women to start small businesses, particularly in rural areas where opportunities are scarce.
She also called for direct assistance for vulnerable women, including widows, single mothers and women who have been abandoned, to help cover household expenses and children’s schooling, without having to navigate burdensome bureaucracy.
“These women are holding up their families in silence. They need practical support, not tokenism,” she said.
Jannie also raised the issue of land ownership under programmes such as Sabah Native Land Services (Pantas) and the recognition of Native Customary Rights, calling for women, especially Indigenous women to be granted equal recognition.
She urged the Government to allocate resources to strengthen legal protections for women in Sabah, including in cases of domestic violence, sexual harassment and underage marriage.
This, she said, must also include reforms within the state’s customary legal framework.
“Safety, dignity and justice cannot depend on geography or tradition. Women’s rights must apply equally across Sabah,” she said.
She called for stable, annual funding for women’s NGOs that provide legal aid, advocacy and community support, saying their role is critical in reaching people the state often misses.
Jannie also renewed her call for a minimum 30 per cent women’s representation in community leadership roles, including the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) chairs, village chiefs and local councils.
“This target will not be reached without deliberate investment in leadership development.
“It’s not just about giving seats, it’s about building leaders,” she said.
She welcomed the RM15.5 million allocation for JKKKs but reminded the Government that delays in allowance payments remain an issue on the ground.
Jannie acknowledged the increased funding for care centres for persons with disabilities and the elderly, but said service quality must be improved through proper training, gender-sensitive staffing and a humane approach to care.
She also highlighted gaps in access to maternal and reproductive healthcare, mental health services and postnatal support, particularly for Indigenous, rural and disabled women.
“This is basic public health. We cannot claim progress while whole groups of women remain excluded from essential services,” Jannie said.
She highlighted that women must not be an afterthought in Sabah’s development, as empowering them is not an act of charity but a way to strengthen families, communities and institutions.
Jannie expressed her support for the bill, with the condition that the allocations are implemented fairly and with women actively included in every stage.
