Latest news with #Lam
Daily Express
2 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Express
More capable women in key roles needed: Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce Sabah
Published on: Friday, June 20, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jun 20, 2025 Text Size: Lam suggested creating women's business incubators and cross-border partnership networks, particularly to strengthen Malaysia-China women's business connections. More women should participate in policy consultations and high-level forums. Kota Kinabalu: Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce Sabah's Women Entrepreneurs Committee hopes Sabah will introduce gender-responsive policies, including dedicated financing for women entrepreneurs and more quotas for female political candidates. Its President, Lam Lee Chin, called for the civil service to establish structured promotion mechanisms for women officers while pushing for greater female representation in politics and governance. Advertisement 'For Sabah to become a more resilient and competitive regional hub, we need capable women leaders in political and high-level decision-making roles,' Lam said in statement, here, last Wednesday. Despite Sabah's natural resources and strategic location, women continue to face significant challenges in business and politics, according to Lam. 'Female entrepreneurs struggle to access funding and market opportunities, while inadequate childcare policies force many women to choose between family and career advancement. 'In politics, women remain underrepresented in the state assembly and local governments. Even in the civil service, where women perform well at grassroots levels, few reach senior positions like permanent secretary or ministerial roles. Gender bias and stereotypes persist, with lingering doubts about women's leadership abilities,' Lam said. Advertisement To address these issues, Lam proposed a comprehensive approach involving government, business chambers, and civil society. She urged authorities to introduce gender-responsive policies, including dedicated financing for women entrepreneurs and minimum quotas for female political candidates. The civil service should also establish structured promotion mechanisms for women officers. Lam suggested creating women's business incubators and cross-border partnership networks, particularly to strengthen Malaysia-China women's business connections. More women should participate in policy consultations and high-level forums. 'Companies should implement gender diversity quotas at board and executive levels, while educational institutions and media should actively promote gender equality to challenge traditional stereotypes,' she said. The call comes as Assistant Minister Datuk Flovia Ng recently encouraged more women to contest in upcoming state elections. Lam expressed strong support for this initiative, saying it could diversify leadership perspectives in Sabah. Lam also acknowledged the statement by Liberal Democratic Party Women's Leader Glenna Wong, who described women as naturally creative, resilient and socially perceptive leaders capable of driving social transformation. 'We sincerely hope to witness Sabah's first female Chief Minister or State Secretary – a historic milestone in our journey toward political reform and gender equality,' Lam said. Drawing inspiration from countries like Finland, Iceland, and New Zealand, where women excel in politics and contribute to national well-being, Lam believes Sabah should lead in gender-balanced governance. She suggested the State could establish Women-First Development Zones or Women Entrepreneur Innovation Parks as pilot projects for policy innovation. 'Creating a truly women-friendly Sabah goes beyond empowering women, it is about shaping a better future for all,' she said. The Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce Sabah Women Entrepreneurs Committee, led by Datuk Dexter Lau, has committed to serving as a bridge between local and international resources to accelerate women's advancement in business and politics. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Economist
12 hours ago
- Business
- Economist
Why Vietnam's new leader is worried
Vietnam's economy may be booming—but To Lam, its new leader, isn't happy. Over the past 15 years, the country has achieved 6% average annual growth, powered by new factories—which have sprung up from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City—to make goods destined for export, largely to America. But many of those factories are foreign-owned and don't work much with Vietnamese firms. In addition Vietnam now risks being caught between a feuding Washington and Beijing. So what can Mr Lam do to revolutionise Vietnam's economy? Hosts: Ethan Wu and Mike Bird. Guests: David Dapice, emeritus professor of economics at Tufts University; and Nguyễn Khắc Giang, a visiting fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore.
The Star
14 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Vietnam party chief calls on newly merged southeastern city to become international megacity
HANOI: Vietnam's newly merged city comprising Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong province and Ba Ria-Vung Tau province is expected to become an international megacity in South-East Asia, the Vietnam News Agency quoted General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam (pic) as saying on Wednesday (June 18). Speaking at a high-level working session in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday, Lam said the merger has brought together the country's three most dynamic economic regions with strategic strengths in finance, high-tech industry and seaport logistics, the state-owned media reported. According to Lam, the new vision for the city is to become a "Southeast Asian international megacity," which is a smart, green and innovative urban hub that excels not only in economic capacity, but also in culture, arts, sports, entertainment and modern lifestyle. Vietnamese official data from 2024 shows that the newly merged Ho Chi Minh City will cover 6,772sq km with a population exceeding 14 million, while consolidating the three top-performing provinces in the field of digital governance, administrative reform and free trade implementation. The merger of the three provinces is a part of the Vietnamese government's broader plan to reduce the number of provincial-level administrative units from 63 to 34, according to the Vietnam News Agency. - Xinhua
RTHK
2 days ago
- Business
- RTHK
'Influx of foreign funds as NSL creates stability'
'Influx of foreign funds as NSL creates stability' Jeffrey Lam says the National Security Law has brought back stability and sparked a return of investments by foreign companies. Photo: RTHK Lawmaker Jeffrey Lam said more foreign funds are coming to Hong Kong as the National Security Law helps to provide a stable environment for businesses. Speaking on RTHK's NSL Chronicles III programme, Lam said the city is attracting the return of funds that were here previously, as well as new ones, with the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance offering confidence to investors. "The National Security Law is an important foundation for social stability," he said. "Why do foreigners invest in Hong Kong and why do the people of Hong Kong re-invest in Hong Kong? It is because of our political, economic and social stability. "I have also been in touch with some of the leading foreign enterprises and have been told they will implement some investment projects in Hong Kong." He said foreign businesses from Asean, the Middle East, Europe and the United States are investing in the SAR again. The businessman and vice-chairman of the Business and Professionals Alliance also cited a survey carried out by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong showing confidence among US firms in the SAR reaching a three-year high. The survey showed 83 percent of more than 500 corporate executives expressed trust in the city's rule of law, up from 79 percent last year and 73 percent in 2023.
RTHK
3 days ago
- Politics
- RTHK
'Constructive criticism not amounting to sedition'
'Constructive criticism not amounting to sedition' Secretary for Justice Paul Lam said people don't have to worry about falling foul of the SAR's sedition laws so long as their criticism is aimed at suggesting improvement to the authorities. The justice chief told the RTHK programme NSL Chronicles III that there are clear stipulations about how certain acts and comments do not constitute sedition in the home-grown national security law under Article 23 of the Basic Law. "For example, when we have different opinions or criticisms about government policies, the law is clear in this regard," Lam said. "If you're expressing views with the intent of wishing the government to do better, or making so-called criticism with good intentions, the law states in black and white that these do not amount to [the crime of] seditious intention." Lam said according to the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, it is also legal to suggest improvement to the legal or political system as well as the constitutional order, so long as there's no intent to incite hatred or contempt. On the other hand, Lam explained how people may violate seditious laws under Article 23 even if they don't intend to incite violence. He noted there had been instances where some comments "could harm the public's views towards the government", causing hatred or enmity, even if they don't specifically ask people to take up arms to confront the SAR government.
