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Kota Kinabalu: Sabah has reached its goal of appointing women to 30 per cent of senior government roles, announced Datuk James Ratib.

The State Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Minister highlighted that three women currently serve as permanent secretaries in ministries, including his own, Tourism, Culture and Environment, and Rural Development.

“To date, the State Government has allocated 30 to 40 per cent of positions for Sabah women, whether in government departments or in government- linked companies (GLCs) in Sabah.

“If there are more women leaders with charisma and leadership, they could head departments or hold senior positions,” he said in a statement after officiating the 2024 Credible Women Leadership Conference at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), here.

On the 2024 Credible Women Leadership Conference, James said eight out of 20 heads of women’s departments, or 40 percent, participated.

He said the programme, which has been running from 2011, has trained 12 Women of Substance (WoS), encompassing a total of 450 female officers under the Sabah Women’s Affairs Department (Jhewa).

“The Ministry, through Jhewa, always encourages more women to venture into challenging fields requiring specialised skills, in line with the rapidly evolving technological landscape.

“Women need to break free from the constraints that have long limited their roles and thinking. 

“They must progress alongside the nation’s advancement in this era of global development,” he said.

James said the conference aligns with the theme of the 2024 International Women’s Day celebration, “Wanita Dijulang Negara Gemilang.”

He said the State Government consistently provides support and encouragement to female officers serving in the Government, particularly through Jhewa, a special programme dedicated to women’s leadership.

“The success of an official in the public service is no longer judged by seniority but by excellent work performance, regardless of age.

“There is no denying that women’s achievement and representation as decision-makers have reached 30pc, including positions such as Permanent Secretaries of Ministries and Heads of State Departments.

“I see the performance of female officers in this cloud service becoming increasingly prominent. Today, we observe women holding important positions in both the public and private sectors.

“Although the number is still relatively small, it proves that women in this country possess high competitiveness and enthusiasm,” he added.

James hopes ministries, departments and State Government agencies will consistently support programmes implemented by Jhewa. 

Jhewa Director Hajah Haslina Ismail said the role of women in development is as important as the role played by men. 

“Women also compete in the current era of globalisation and are sensitive to the current circulation and development needs of the country,” she said.