Women have board seats; now they need a voice, says 30% Club Malaysia

 

THE 30% Club Malaysia has called on corporate leaders to move beyond gender representation and ensure women have a meaningful voice in boardroom decisions, as women now hold 34.4% of board seats among the country’s top 100 public-listed companies (PLCs).

The call was made at the organisation’s annual Board Mentoring Celebration on Wednesday, themed “Beyond the Numbers: From Representation to Real Influence”.

The event celebrated 15 women who completed the 11th cohort of the Board Mentoring Scheme (BMS) and welcomed 24 participants to its 12th cohort.

Established in collaboration with PwC Malaysia in 2017, the nine-month programme pairs aspiring women directors with experienced board members to strengthen their governance knowledge, professional networks and readiness for board appointments.

The scheme has supported more than 179 senior women leaders across 11 cohorts, with 47% of mentees securing board roles in public-listed companies, small and medium enterprises, and industry associations.

30% Club Malaysia chair and PwC Malaysia executive chair Nurul A’in Abdul Latif said aspiring women directors needed greater access to professional networks, sponsorship and opportunities to gain boardroom exposure.

“Malaysia has no shortage of capable women leaders. What many aspiring board members need is access to networks, sponsorship and opportunities that help them gain visibility and boardroom exposure,” she said.

While some mentees had progressed to board positions, others continued to lead and influence from executive roles, she said, adding that advancing gender-balanced leadership required men to help open doors and sponsor talent.

A keynote address by Axiata Group chairman and independent non-executive director Tan Sri Shahril Ridza Ridzuan highlighted the role of leadership in creating corporate cultures where diverse perspectives are welcomed and translated into action.

30% Club Malaysia steering committee member and PwC Malaysia partner Pauline Ho said the progress in women’s board representation needed to be matched by meaningful participation in decision-making.

“The true measure of success is not simply whether women have a seat at the table, but whether their perspectives are heard, valued and reflected in the decisions that shape organisations,” she noted.

A key feature of the event was an interactive boardroom exercise titled “Would You Hire Her?”, which invited participants to assess leadership candidates and consider how gender, career breaks, age and non-traditional career paths could influence appointment decisions.

The exercise led into a panel discussion, “The Power of Voice, Influence and Allyship”, featuring Shahril, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation chairman Ganesh Kumar Bangah, TIME dotCom independent non-executive director and nomination committee chair Teoh Su Yin, and Telekom Malaysia nomination and remuneration committee chair Hisham Zainal Mokhtar.

The panel examined ways to challenge unconscious bias, broaden talent pipelines and create more equitable routes to leadership.

It also highlighted the role of male allies, given that decisions on recruitment, promotion, succession planning and board appointments are often made by people already in positions of influence.

Attendees were encouraged to bring male colleagues in leadership roles to broaden the discussion and strengthen collective commitment to inclusive leadership.

The event also featured a call for nominations under the Men Allies for Parity initiative, launched in 2025 as part of the 30% Club Malaysia’s 10th anniversary.

The initiative recognises men who take concrete steps to expand opportunities for women, including sponsoring emerging leaders, challenging traditional ideas of board readiness and advocating inclusive decision-making.

According to the Securities Commission Malaysia, women held 34.4% of board positions at the top 100 PLCs as of April 1, 2026. Across all PLCs on Bursa Malaysia, women occupied 29.8% of board seats, showing that progress among the largest listed companies has not yet been matched across the broader market.

The 30% Club Malaysia said its focus remained on ensuring that gender diversity translates into meaningful influence in corporate governance, strategy and long-term business performance. ‒  Focus Malaysia