In his Budget Speech 2018, Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced that 2018 is earmarked as “Women Empowerment Year”. As one who ardently advocates science, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti), Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred
Madius Tangau shares his thoughts on women’s grace of feminine wisdom in the area of science and technology. The Petri Dish editor-in-chief, MAHALETCHUMY ARUJANAN, in a recent interview puts his thoughts on record.
IT is undeniable that Malaysian women have been a driving force in the country’s economic growth. And we have achieved excellent gender equality in Malaysia, but I do believe we can improve on this to spur more women to helming organisations. For this, I applaud the prime minister for announcing 2018 as “Women Empowerment Year”.
As a minister in charge of science, technology and innovation, I want to see more women at the pinnacles of Science Technology and Innovation (STI),” says Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau.
[ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”2,3″ ihc_mb_template=”1″ ]He points out that Mosti has always had on-going efforts that encourage women’s participation in technology and entrepreneurship. In fact, this is entrenched in Mosti’s National Policy on Science, Technology and Innovation under the talent development
measures with a clause that says, “promote and enhance meaningful, effective and equitable female participation in STI at all levels and in all sectors”.
“With the Industrial Revolution 4.0 looming over our heads, we have a greater responsibility to ensure women are not left behind in the digitalised world”, says Tangau.
Women empowerment efforts in Mosti was also taken to the international stage by the International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation
(ISTIC) which is under the auspices of Unesco that comes under the purview of Mosti.
In September 2017, ISTIC, a strong advocate for women in science organised a technopreneurship workshop where 32 women delegates from 15 countries participated.
Early this month, an event specially for women was hosted in Ranau, Sabah and was supported by Mosti. It was jointly organised by Majlis Penasihat Wanita Sabah, Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia, the Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation and MARA where awareness
was created among women on the various aspects of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Tangau believes there is still so much of untapped women brain power and getting them involved in science is one way of tapping it.
To encourage more girls to be involved in STEM education, Yayasan Penyelidikan Antartika Sultan Mizan (YPASM) embarked on a campaign called “Malaysia’s Journey to the Ice:
Women in Antarctica”.
Under this campaign, Malaysian women polar researchers shared their experiences and personal stories on the expedition to students.
“I get feedback that this programme is gaining traction among girls in schools with more than 70 per cent showing great interest in science after being inspired by the Antarctica women researchers”.
Tangau has very clear goals for the nation where he believes women should be equally involved in nation-building and be a strong driving force in the country’s STI agenda.
“This is the way to build a forwardthinking society”, says Tangau who also mentioned Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Mazlan Othman, Prof Datuk Asma Ismail, Prof Datin Paduka Khatijah Mohamad Yusoff, and Dr Siti Aqlima Ahmad, four prominent women scientists
in Malaysia whom aspiring researchers must take after.
