Women leaders more common in M’sia than some Western countries, says science academy fellow

KUCHING (Oct 24): Malaysia has been called “quite progressive” in terms of having women in leadership roles.

According to Academy of Science Malaysia fellow Dr Salmah Zakaria, women in leadership roles is generally accepted in the country.

“In Malaysia, we’re quite progressive. You’ll often find women as general managers in organisations, which is less common in some Western countries. Women here are generally accepted in leadership roles,” she said during the ‘Women as Water Leaders – The Unseen Currents’ forum at the Borneo International Water and Wastewater Exhibition and Conference (BIWWEC) 2024 here yesterday.

Salmah said remaining focused and not letting criticism hold her back enabled her to advance to the international stage and embrace the challenges along the way.

“Family life and social responsibilities add richness to what I do, and a stable personal life has always supported my career. To me, balancing isn’t a gender issue; it’s about managing your life, whether you’re a man or a woman,” she said.

“I’ve always enjoyed my roles, no matter where I was assigned. It helps to understand what people expect of you and to tackle challenges one at a time, even when there are multiple tasks at hand. For me, a career in the water sector is like any other – you can balance it if you want to. But if you’re not passionate about what you do, you won’t find balance in any career.”

The Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) alumna and one of the institution’s first female engineers has over 47 years of experience in the water sector.

Her most recent roles include director of the River Engineering Division at the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Malaysia, director of the Corporate Division at DID, and director general of the National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (Nahrim).

Joining Salmah on the panel were Assoc Prof at De La Salle University Manila Dr Manequiz Redulas, Kuching Water Board general manager Rodziah Mohamad, and Dr Ampai Harakunarak – a sustainable development professional from Thailand.

The session aimed to highlight the roles of women in stewardship and leadership within the water industry.