Women need the courage to be leaders, decision makers.

KUCHING, Oct. 5: Women need to shift from merely participating in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) as well as technology to greater roles as leaders and decision makers.

Sarawak Minister of Women, Child Development and Community Welfare, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said that women's participation in the field is now showing positive development, but the next challenge is to ensure they continue to grow so as to be able to hold leadership positions and have decision-making power.

She believes that the shift from participation to leadership is essential to ensuring women's talent in STEM and technology does not stop at the early stages of their careers.

"The narrator brings the woman through that door, thank God. So participation is a start.

"Then, how do we translate that participation into leadership, where we have power and authority. What we want to see happen is women being given a chance", she said.

He said this while delivering his greeting at the SHE-TECH ASIA Forum 2026 in conjunction with Sarawak International Digital Economy Conference (IDECS) 2026 at Borneo Kuching Convention Centre (BCCK), here today.

Fatimah explained that women should be given the opportunity to lead teams, manage important projects, get involved in decision-making and build the necessary experience to step up to senior leadership.

He said that women's participation in STEM and technology should not be measured solely by the number of people entering the field.

In fact, he said that the measure should take into account the number of women who remain in those fields, develop their careers and eventually succeed in leadership positions in their respective sectors.

"Participation is a start, but we want to see women continue to grow up to be at the level that has the power and authority to make decisions", she said.

In the meantime, Fatimah also reminded women who have achieved a certain position not to forget other women who are still in the process of building careers.

He believes that those who succeed should help pave the way, share experiences and provide opportunities for other women, especially the next generation.

She said that women's success in carrying out their responsibilities well not only proves their ability, but also being able to set an example and open up the space for more women to follow in the same footsteps.

He said efforts to strengthen women's leadership in STEM and technology should be seen as a continuation of increased female participation in the respective fields.