“WHEN YOU EDUCATE a girl, you empower a generation,” says Joanne Yeoh, the immediate past president of Soroptimist International (SI) South East Asia Pacific. In Penang, significant work is already being done to empower women. From grassroots political training to cutting-edge technological literacy, the state has firmly established itself as a trailblazer in women’s advancement. According to the Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC), Penang is “setting a precedent for gender-inclusive political participation.”
What are some of these efforts, particularly in terms of leadership and financial independence?
ECONOMY AND POLITICS
On 22 June 2026, the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Women, Children and Community Development proposed a Gender Parity in Political Representation Bill. This would require that political parties field at least 30% women candidates in general and state elections to address their under-representation in politics. The Committee also proposed amending the Federal Constitution and strengthening the National Women’s Policy to incorporate a minimum target of 30% women in decision-making positions at all levels of government, in line with Malaysia’s commitments under the United Nations’ (UN) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
According to the Global Gender Gap Index 2025, Malaysia ranked 108th out of 148 countries, with a score of 0.681. In terms of economic participation and engagement, Malaysia ranked 81st with a score of 0.682, but scored lower on women’s political empowerment (0.079), ranking 128th. SI, a global volunteer movement with a network of over 62,000 club members in 118 countries, has highlighted the linkages between women’s education and economic and political participation. It affirms that:
“[…] educating women and girls goes beyond individual empowerment; it produces better health outcomes, fuels economic growth, and contributes towards stable and peaceful societies. A 2018 World Bank study underlines the economic impact, revealing that restricted access to 12 years of education for girls globally costs countries USD15–30tril in lost lifetime productivity and earnings.”
EMPOWERING WOMEN THROUGH EDUCATION
Advocacy for human rights and gender equality lies at the heart of SI’s work across UN centres in New York, Geneva, Vienna, Paris, Rome, Nairobi and Bangkok, whose 26 UN representatives ensure that women’s and girls’ voices are heard in key global discussions. Joanne Yeoh believes that: “True empowerment is not just a gift we give; it is a catalyst we ignite. Through every project, every class-room built and every scholarship awarded, we do not just change lives—we create the architects of tomorrow. When we empower women to use their voices, engage communities with compassion and elevate each other, we rewrite the future for everyone.”
In March 2026, Joanne attended the Commission on the Status of Women, established by the UN in New York in 1946, to talk about SI’s pilot project at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Perempuan Sri Mutiara: the Digital Library & TVPSS Studio. It “helped the school to convert their traditional library into a digital library. Give the girls resources, training, and they can do many things, such as making their own movies and exploring digital pathways.” In New York, she was asked how foundations and clubs could start such projects. Her answer was to “first, approach your state authorities to do a pilot. Collaborate, and soon the project could become a kind of blueprint [for implementation].”
