Remarks by President Halimah Yacob at the Engagement with Malaysian Female Political Leaders

Good evening. It is my pleasure to join you today and be in the company of so many accomplished women leaders from different political parties. I look forward very much to our conversation and hearing your ideas of how we can further strengthen the excellent Singapore-Malaysia relationship, including on women empowerment.

It is a happy coincidence that we are meeting just two weeks after our two countries marked International Women’s Day and celebrated women as boundary-breakers, record-holders, risk-takers, and change-makers. I was honoured to induct eight deserving women – each a trailblazer in her field – into the Singapore Women Hall of Fame. I understand that in Malaysia, as part of the Kasih Wanita events to commemorate the occasion, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had personally given out awards to recognise the contributions of outstanding women. It is clear that on both sides of the Causeway, we have no lack of impressive female role models, including all of you!

I am proud to see the huge strides made by women on various fronts, including politics and government. When I first entered politics in 2001, I was one of only ten women elected to Parliament. Today, women make up almost 30% of Singapore’s Parliament. In a similar vein, the percentage of female parliamentarians in Malaysia has doubled in the last three decades to 13.5% last year. The growing ranks of female Members of Parliament and political leaders like you inspire young girls to not only have big dreams, but also to give of themselves unstintingly and selflessly to public service. 

I am also delighted to see the steady advancements made by women in the corporate world. Last year, the percentage of women on the boards of Singapore’s Top 100 listed companies rose to an all-time high of 21.5%. In Malaysia, that figure was even higher at 29%. During my time at Singapore’s National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), one of my tasks was to persuade younger women to take up leadership positions in their own unions or in the labour movement. It was not easy because many cited the difficulty of balancing work and family as a huge deterrent. So it is encouraging to see more women in leadership positions, making their voices heard in the policymaking and corporate spheres.

As we all know, representation matters. Women leaders like you provide critical and unique perspectives on issues close to the hearts of women. A good example from Singapore is the 2022 White Paper on Women’s Development, a labour of love by generations of women and allies which launched a National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment helpline and introduced new guidelines to normalise Flexible Work Arrangements as it recognised that women are often disproportionately impacted by the scourge of abuse and the responsibilities of caring for the family. I am heartened that Malaysia has also rolled out similar policies such as the Kasih Rahmah Wanita Fund to provide financial assistance to victims of domestic violence and abandoned women.

With our common heritage and deep people-to-people links, Singapore and Malaysia can benefit much from each other’s experiences as we continue our march toward gender equality. The same high levels of familiarity and trust between us which have fuelled bilateral cooperation in multiple domains from the economy to climate, from cybersecurity to education, should also spur greater exchanges between our authorities charged with women’s issues as well as women-led NGOs and CSOs.

Ultimately, it takes all of us – women and men alike – to foster a culture where everyone can fulfil their potential on a level playing field. While supportive government policies are crucial, all of us in our daily lives can play our part to chip away at harmful gender stereotypes, call out unacceptable misconduct, and smoothen the path for those who come after us.

In closing, I am confident that women in Singapore and Malaysia will continue to play indispensable roles in nation-building and help write the next bright chapter of our longstanding, multifaceted, and mutually beneficial bilateral relationship.  Thank you.