Tengku Zafrul: Malaysia should assess investors by job quality, treatment of women

Malaysian Investment Development Authority chairman Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz has proposed that investors in Malaysia be evaluated based on the quality of the jobs they create, the treatment of workers, and in particular, women. He emphasized that fair wages, safe working conditions, and flexible work arrangements should be essential criteria for determining the quality of investments.

Zafrul stressed that welcoming investors who treat women well, offer good jobs, fair pay, and safe workplaces is no longer a favor but a new standard for quality investments.

Citing McKinsey's research, Zafrul highlighted that advancing women's equality could potentially add US$4.5 trillion (RM18.4 trillion) annually to Asia-Pacific economies, with Malaysia standing to gain approximately US$50 billion each year, equivalent to around eight percent of its gross domestic product. He argued that a higher workforce participation rate among women, combined with equal access to capital and markets for women entrepreneurs, would enhance the country's economic productivity.

Zafrul explained that when more women enter and continue to work, and women entrepreneurs have equal access to capital and markets, along with talented women advancing to senior leadership roles, it expands the country's productive capacity. He pointed out that a larger pool of diverse ideas, skills, and entrepreneurial talent fuels economic growth.

Zafrul noted that while Malaysia's female labour force participation rate reached a record 56.6 percent by the end of 2025, many women left the workforce after graduation due to insufficient childcare support and caregiving responsibilities. He emphasized that women frequently had to balance their careers with caring for children and elderly parents.

Zafrul stressed that empowering women is crucial to unlocking Malaysia's economic potential, especially as countries vie for talent, productivity, and innovation. He concluded by stating that leaving women behind is not only unjust but also economically irrational in today's competitive global landscape.