RM8.24 million in 2026 for Sabah Women’s Empowerment

The State Government has given RM8.24 million to the Sabah Women’s Affairs Department (Jabatan Hal Ehwal Wanita Sabah or JHEWA) in 2026 for operational purposes, economic development initiatives, entrepreneurial training and skills enhancement, leadership, family development, and product development and promotion.

“Women must participate in shaping our development,” Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said at the Sabah-level Women’s Day celebration on 4th September 2026 at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), Kota Kinabalu.

Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), Kota Kinabalu. “Under the Sabah Maju Jaya 2.0 (SMJ) framework 2026 to 2030 women’s development must move in tandem with the State’s aspirations. Women with knowledge, skills, income and access to opportunities will have greater resilience in determining the future of themselves and their families.

They add value to our journey in capacity building; strengthening self-reliance; and creating value, wealth and employment opportunities, which aligns with the National Women’s Policy focusing on women’s empowerment through greater space, opportunities, exposure, economic participation, social protection, and a more responsive employment ecosystem.”

The women movement has implemented several initiatives including JHEWA BizBloom, which focuses on women’s economic development, particularly single mothers and women in the B40 economic group. “Our aspiration is to have more Sabah women emerge as highly skilled professionals, scientists, technologists, innovators, digital entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, community leaders and leaders in the public service, Hajiji said.

“We want women’s leadership to grow and to build the next generation of women and to continue working with government agencies, non-governmental organisations and communities to empower women in urban, rural and interior areas.”