MEDIA STATEMENT
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2025
8 MARCH 2025
In conjunction with International Women’s Day 2025, Institut Masa Depan Malaysia (MASA) calls on all sectors of society to step forward in solidarity to celebrate the roles, achievements and resilience of women across the world.
Under the theme “Accelerate Action”, MASA recognises the significant progress made as
well as the ongoing challenges that continue to hinder the full participation of women and girls in society. While women have made remarkable strides in various fields, deeply rooted inequalities continue to limit their potential.
Issues such as violence and exploitation against women, workplace discrimination, wage gaps and limited access to leadership roles remain major barriers to true equality. Therefore, urgent and decisive collective action must be taken without delay.
This year’s theme calls for a united effort to ensure that women and girls are granted their full rights, provided with equal opportunities and empowered to lead and succeed in all aspects of life. It is a call for an uncompromising commitment to creating an inclusive society where gender-based discrimination is eradicated, and women’s voices are heard and valued.
In line with MASA’s commitment to supporting the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 (SPV2030) agenda, where no one is left behind, every woman and girl deserves to live free from fear, with access to education, healthcare, fair employment and equal opportunities to shape their future.
Structural inaccuracies and discriminatory practices, often stemming from misconceptions about the status and roles of women, continue to restrict opportunities for women and girls. The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), in its Graduate Statistics 2023 release, found that, on average, female graduates earn RM900 less than their male counterparts despite having the same academic qualifications.
This wage gap reflects broader systemic injustices that undervalue women’s contributions and limit their freedom to participate fairly and effectively in various fields. Additionally, the World Economic Forum 2023 report stated that Malaysia’s gender wage gap remains one of the worst in the world, underscoring the urgent need for labour market reforms. The Global Gender Gap Report 2023 ranked Malaysia 102nd out of 146 countries, making it one of the lowest-ranked in the region. These figures highlight the urgent need for transformative action to address the denial of women’s rights in education, employment and leadership.
Beyond economic inequality, Malaysian women continue to face challenges in political representation and leadership. Women hold less than 15 per cent of ministerial positions and their participation in key decision-making processes remains limited. A lack of women in leadership roles results in policies and initiatives that often fail to fully address gender-specific issues.
MASA calls on individuals, businesses, policymakers and civil society organizations to take bold and measurable steps toward achieving a more just and equitable position for women. We must advocate for legal and policy reforms that protect women’s rights, reject exploitation that abuses and limits women’s potential, empower women’s contributions and perspectives in leadership and decision-making, invest in education, healthcare and economic empowerment for women, and foster a culture of genuine and comprehensive solidarity. Achieving justice and equality for women requires collective commitment and action from all.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, let us move beyond words and commit to real, impactful change. Equality for women is not just a women’s issue – it is a human rights issue that affects the economic and social progress of our nation.
When women thrive, societies prosper. By stepping forward in solidarity, we can build a future where every woman and girl has the opportunity to reach her full potential.
Happy International Women’s Day 2025!
AZRIL MOHD AMIN
Chief Executive Officer
Institut Masa Depan Malaysia
