PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today announced the formation of the Women Advisory and Consultative Council (MWWP).
The MWWP, Najib said, would advise the government on matters that could improve efforts and policies of women development in Malaysia.
"The input from the council will ensure efforts of women development can be carried out in tandem with the goals set by the government.
"It can also advise on what need to be done to improve our policies," he said at the launch of the National Women Day celebration themed "Celebration of Excellence".
Present were the prime minister's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim.
Among the MWWP members who received their appointment letter from Najib were Permata Foundation Board of director Tan Sri Dr Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Shahabudin; Malaysia Debt Ventures Bhd chairman Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar and film and theatre producer Puan Sri Tiara Jacquelina.
Najib also urged the corporate sector to boost women participation in decision making from current 15 per cent to 30 per cent as soon as possible.
He said companies would be asked to provide index diversity including on the women participation in decision making.
"By doing this we can keep track of the number of women in decision making posts in both government and private companies."
The Cabinet, Najib said, had also approved an action plan to empower single mothers in various aspects including economy, health and education.
On flexi-working hours, he urged ministries to adopt it because aside from the Women, Family and Community Ministry and two or three others, many had yet to do the same.
At the same time, the prime minister wanted to see more ministries to set up day-care centres and if possible adopt the Permata curriculum.
Earlier, Rohani said her ministry would set up a database on all things related to women in Malaysia.