IDS CHAIRMAN EXPRESSES FULL SUPPORT FOR CHIEF MINISTER’S CALL TO EMPOWER WOMEN IN SABAH

7 MAY 2025 

KOTA KINABALU (TUESDAY): Chairman of the Institute for Development Studies (Sabah) [IDS], YBhg. Datuk Seri Panglima Hajah Azizah binti DSP Mohd Dun, has expressed her full support for the Chief Minister’s recent call to strengthen women’s empowerment in Sabah through greater access to opportunities in the economy, education, and politics.

Underscoring the same commitment voiced by YAB Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor during the swearing-in of the new Sabah Women’s Advisory Council (MPWS) members, Datuk Seri Panglima Hajah Azizah stated that women’s empowerment is not only a matter of equality but a key driver of Sabah’s sustainable development.

“We welcome the Chief Minister’s call as timely and aligned with our vision at IDS to elevate women’s leadership across all levels of society. Investing in women is investing in the future of Sabah,” she said.

In her statement today, IDS Chairman, Datuk Seri Panglima Hajah Azizah Mohd Dun said, the institute has been proactive in this area, notably through the establishment of the Women’s Leadership Initiative Committee (WLIC) on 10 July 2024. WLIC was created to advance women’s leadership, provide career-long professional development, strengthen women’s participation in the economy and entrepreneurship, and offer mentorship across key socio-economic areas.

Since its formation, WLIC has organised several high-impact engagements aimed at amplifying women’s voices and fostering multi-sectoral collaboration. These include a Roundtable with Government Agencies (11 November 2024), the Sabah Women’s Budget Town Hall (11 January 2025), a Roundtable with GLCs and private sector players (28 February 2025), and a Roundtable with NGOs (18 March 2025). These platforms allow key stakeholders to contribute strategic input toward major state-level policy documents, including the upcoming Sabah Women’s Leadership Blueprint, which is expected to form the basis for establishing a dedicated Ministry for Women.

Datuk Seri Hajah Azizah expressed her confidence that WLIC could serve as an effective monitoring mechanism for tracking progress on increasing women’s representation in leadership and decision-making roles.

Meanwhile, in alignment with the Sabah State Budget 2025, IDS and its strategic partner, Sabah Credit Corporation (SCC), launched the Program Keusahawanan Wanita Muda: Daya Upaya Peluang Usahanita (DAYANG) on 27 February 2025. This initiative is designed to empower young women entrepreneurs, particularly in rural areas, and to help close the gender gap in economic participation while supporting broader socio-economic development.

DAYANG offers more than access to financing. It also provides business training, mentorship, and marketing support to help participants build sustainable and competitive ventures. The programme emphasises long-term impact and includes an 18-month support structure through the newly formed Entrepreneurship Advisory Council.

Under this initiative, IDS leads on the research part while SCC oversees financial management and funding. Most recently, on 26 April 2025, IDS and SCC, working with the Beaufort District Office, held a district-level outreach event entitled Program Memperkasa Usahawan Wanita Muda Sabah: Kuasa Wanita, Kuasa Ekonomi. This marked the start of the DAYANG rollout across selected districts, which focused on identifying and nurturing young rural women with strong entrepreneurial potential.

As of now, SCC has received 16 funding applications under the programme, amounting to a total of RM425,000, signalling high interest and demand for business capital among young women.

“IDS is committed to ensuring that every initiative undertaken is not only inclusive but also has a direct impact on the overall quality of life for women in Sabah,” she added.

Datuk Seri Panglima Hajah Azizah emphasised that women’s empowerment is not merely a matter of gender equality, but a vital strategy in state development. She also reaffirmed IDS’s commitment to supporting the Chief Minister’s call to build a more inclusive, progressive, and resilient society through the active participation of Sabahan women.