KUALA LUMPUR: Public listed companies (PLCs) which have an absence of women in their boards of directors will be "named and shamed" and risk losing out on government contracts.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the government would feature these companies in a list expected to be published next year.
"As of December last year, we have 16.8 per cent of women on the boards of directors in PLCs… but we want to achieve our 30 per cent target.
“This means we need another 13.2 per cent. I have issued a warning that next year, we will publish the list of PLCs that have no women as board members.
“We will name and shame these companies. I can also threaten by refusing to give government contracts if they are really recalcitrant,” he said at a National Transformation 2050 (TN50) dialogue during the National Women’s Day celebration here today.
Najib said the move would improve the percentage of women in boards of directors in the next few years.
“This is our commitment. The percentage will change dramatically when we have strict enforcement. I am confident,” he added.