The Malaysian government wants to ensure that women enjoy their fundamental rights, according to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. And the government is working towards coming up with a gender equality bill, she said. The government is also working to increase the representation of women leadership in the government which is clear given the number of senior cabinet ministerial appointments.

"Currently, we have five women ministers (17.86%) out of 28 ministers and 4 women deputy ministers (14.81%) out of 27 deputy ministers," she said in her speech when officiating The Big Tulip Summit - Women in Business, Industry and Government Programme being held for two days.

Presently, in Malaysia there are 32 women (14.41%) out of 222 members in the House of Representatives and 13 women (19.4%) out of 67 in the Senate, Dr. Wan Azizah said. The Deputy Prime Minister also said, more women in the field of politics will help ensure more women’s voices could be heard at the decision making level in the country. The National Policy on Women is also a sign of the government’s plan to ensure the participation of women in achieving their full potential in the country’s development.

Dr. Azizah urged women leaders to come forward and give back to society. She said this would change the lives of vulnerable urban and poor women and address social issues especially ones afflicting women.

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