Women’s group says 2027 Malaysian budget falls short on gender equality

Awam’s leader Lai Suat Yan praised a few new measures in the 2027 budget, including longer maternity leave for civil servants and expanded tax relief for postpartum care, yet described the plan as largely disappointing. She argued that the budget fails to provide sustainable financing for gender-based violence survivors, such as counseling and long-term recovery services, and does not address rising school violence against girls.

Lai highlighted persistent barriers to women’s economic participation, citing unequal care responsibilities despite high female enrollment in higher education. She called for more affordable, quality community-based care and stronger protections for unpaid caregivers, as well as gender-responsive budgeting that includes transport, housing, health and social protection, especially for rural, low-income, single-mother, migrant and disabled women. The proposal includes publishing a gender budget statement with clear allocations, targets and outcomes, modeled on practices in Morocco, Rwanda, South Korea and Austria.