For generations, the contributions of rural women in Sarawak have been the invisible architecture upon which families, communities, and the economy itself are built. Their labour is a daily act of nurturing, tending to children, elders, and the land, while their authenticity preserves the cultural heartbeat of the state. Yet, too often, their work has gone unmeasured and uncelebrated. It is time we see this with fresh eyes: the economic, social, and environmental stewardship of rural women is not a side story, it is the story of Sarawak’s journey towards the Post-Covid Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
Consider the three beautiful, interconnected domains where their love and labour converge:
Economic Nurturing: Across Sarawak, women are increasingly stepping into the world of micro-enterprise with both courage and creativity. The Iban women of Kuching, for example, have shown strong entrepreneurial aspirations, signalling a deep hunger for business skills and support systems. There is immense, waiting potential in traditional crafts: the global market for rattan alone is valued at US4 billion in external trade. With the right nurturing, accessible financing, digital literacy, and vocational training, these subsistence-level activities can blossom into sustainable businesses, creating better jobs and driving inclusive growth as envisioned in the PCDS 2030.
Social Kindness: In the realm of social cohesion, rural women are the glue. Through their active participation in community organisations like Rukun Tetangga (KRT), they build bridges across ethnic lines, resolve local disputes, and weave a fabric of unity that is the pride of multicultural Malaysia. This kindness has a ripple effect: when you empower a woman, you uplift her children’s health and education, creating a virtuous cycle of community well-being. That is why the Sarawak Government, through the Ministry of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development (KPWK), is intensifying strategic communication efforts, such as the KPWK Townhall Programme and the SarawakKu Sayang Programme Series, to reach directly into rural communities, ensuring no woman is left unheard or unsupported. As Datuk Sri Fatimah Abdullah, the minister, has articulated, these platforms are vital for sharing information on initiatives and ensuring that every policy translates into real benefit for the people.
Environmental Advocacy: As primary managers of natural resources, rural women are the guardians of Sarawak’s environmental future. Their intimate knowledge of the land positions them as essential allies in the state’s commitment to green growth and climate adaptation. Empowered women are more likely to champion sustainable agricultural practices and advocate for climate-resilient policies. This is why the Sarawak Government is integrating gender perspectives into environmental legislation and development programs, reflecting the core “Social” principle of ESG. The goal is not just sustainability, but a nurtured sustainability, one that honours both people and planet.
These efforts align seamlessly with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Investing in rural women is a powerful act of advocacy that delivers a “triple dividend”: economic productivity, social well-being, and environmental resilience.
Accessing Capital with Compassion: Closing the Finance Gap
Every dream needs a foundation, and for many rural women entrepreneurs in Sarawak, that foundation is financial capital. Yet, a persistent gap remains between the availability of funds and their effective use by women, a gap rooted in structural biases, lack of collateral, and insufficient financial literacy. Addressing this is an act of both kindness and strategic investment.
The Sarawak Government and its federal partners have launched a suite of targeted assistance programmes to bridge this divide. The Sarawak Women’s Empowerment Capital Grant (GMPWS) provides direct capital, while the Female Head of Household Assistance (KIRWaS) and Bantuan Ibu Bersalin offer critical social safety nets that free women to pursue economic activities. Nationally, the Wanita Dinamik programme has supported around 8,000 women in Sarawak alone with RM500 business grants, part of a RM4 million allocation. More recently, the federal government committed an additional RM4 million specifically for Sarawak to support women entrepreneurs, with initiatives like the Women’s Leadership Apprentice (Perantis) programme offering RM50,000 grants to train other women in leadership and entrepreneurship. Since 2021, 21,274 women nationwide have been assisted, with nearly 300 Sarawakian women participating in leadership and business training in 2026 alone.
The Sarawak Women’s Empowerment Capital Grant (GMPWS), the Female Head of Household Assistance (KIRWaS), and the Endowment Fund Sarawak are state-led initiatives designed to provide a nurturing financial ecosystem. On the federal side, TEKUN Nasional launched Wanita KASEH to support B40 and M40 women with microfinancing and entrepreneurship training; as of July 2025, TEKUN had disbursed RM583 million to 22,392 entrepreneurs nationwide, with RM4.9 billion historically channelled to 474,314 women entrepreneurs. These programmes are communicated directly to rural women through roadshows, the KPWK Townhall Programme, and the SarawakKu Sayang outreach, ensuring information reaches the grassroots.
Case Study: The Bidayuh Women of Kampung Singai
A powerful example of this nurturing approach is the 3D-IMPAK Model implemented among Bidayuh women entrepreneurs in Kampung Singai. Developed by researchers at UNIMAS, this community-driven framework integrates Digital Transformation, Indigenous Empowerment, and Social Enterprise. It reframes rural entrepreneurship as a pathway not only for economic growth but for cultural resilience and digital inclusion. By promoting digital literacy, indigenous branding, and peer-based cooperative networks, the model directly addresses the systemic gaps that hinder women’s participation and competitiveness. This is authentic empowerment, from the ground up, honouring heritage while embracing the future.
Digitalization is a game-changer. Mobile banking and fintech solutions can reach the remotest longhouse. However, the success of digital finance depends on a baseline of digital literacy. That is why the government’s approach is holistic: coupling financial access with mandatory financial literacy training and digital skills development. The Wanita Gig@BIT 2025 programme, for instance, provides training in digital marketing, cybersecurity, and generative AI, while the Laman Wanita (LaWa) initiative has brought digital and financial literacy training to over 10,668 women through 716 programmes, with a mobile “LaWa-on-the-Go” unit serving areas without permanent facilities.
Digital Literacy and Vocational Skills: Opening Doors with Heart
In today’s world, digital literacy is not a luxury, it is a lifeline. For rural women facing geographic isolation and mobility constraints, digital tools are the bridge to markets, customers, and support networks. The Sarawak Government is championing women’s inclusion in digital transformation. Through the Digital Economy Blueprint and the PCDS 2030, the state has embedded gender equity in its tech-forward ambitions. The RM5 million Sarawak Women Leadership Chair strengthens women’s participation in research, policy, and leadership, while the SHE-TECH Asia Forum, launched in 2023 and now a flagship event, empowers women in technology through leadership workshops and data-driven storytelling.
Case Study: The Penan Women Weavers and Poppies Exclusive
The Penan women’s weaving tradition is an act of profound authenticity, an art form passed through generations. Poppies Exclusive, a partnership with the Penan Women Project, transforms this traditional craft into sustainable income. By blending modern design with ancient techniques, Penan women are now producing contemporary bags and accessories that are sold internationally, generating income that nurtures their families while preserving their cultural identity. This model shows how advocacy meets entrepreneurship: when we value women’s heritage skills, we open doors to global markets.
Vocational training is equally vital. The Institute for Rural Advancement (INFRA) has developed a special women’s module as part of its community empowerment programme; in 2025, 120 women in Sarawak participated in this module, while a Rural Women’s Leadership Seminar attracted nearly 300 participants. These sessions cover personal development, mental well-being, family law rights, and leadership, nurturing the whole woman, not just the entrepreneur. Additionally, GiatMARA and MARA provide technical training and financial schemes. The Sarawak Government, through strategic communication efforts, constantly advocates for these opportunities, encouraging women to embrace them with the message that “when women are independent and healthy, the whole family benefits.”
Policy with a Human Touch: Closing the Implementation Gap
Effective policy is the strongest form of advocacy. Yet, a gap often exists between high-level aspirations and ground-level reality. Sarawak is actively working to close this gap with a people-first approach.
A foundational step is better data. The establishment of a dedicated Gender Data Unit would institutionalise sex-disaggregated data collection, enabling targeted interventions. The KPWK is already enhancing communication and staff engagement to ensure that programmes are data-informed and truly reach rural communities.
Cross-sectoral coordination is another key. The creation of a high-level Rural Women’s Empowerment Task Force, which could bring together finance, education, rural development, and social welfare departments, would ensure a holistic response. The groundbreaking D2EI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) initiative, aligned with PCDS 2030, is a first-of-its-kind special unit in Malaysia that champions women’s roles across all sectors and promotes gender-sensitive policies. This is the embodiment of advocacy through action.
Grassroots collaboration is the heart of implementation. The government’s partnership with NGOs like the Sarawak Women For Women Society and PPIS (Pertubuhan Pembangunan Insan Sarawak) ensures that programmes are community-driven. PPIS, for instance, has called for the 2026 Sarawak Budget to prioritise rural infrastructure, basic amenities, and women’s entrepreneurship support, emphasising that “access to clean water, stable electricity, affordable healthcare and quality education are not privileges, they are the foundation of dignity.”
Structural barriers must also be addressed. The government is improving childcare provision to increase female labour force participation and tackling issues like domestic violence and underrepresentation in community leadership. At the Sarawak Rural Women’s Leadership Seminar, Deputy Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang urged women to embrace leadership roles and personal presentation with the Sarawak Malay concept of “ngesep”, being properly dressed and groomed, as a form of self-respect that strengthens leadership aura and credibility. Her message was one of nurturing strength: “Women are the backbone of society… agents of change who influence many aspects of life.”
The commitment from the top is unwavering. Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has consistently emphasised women’s participation in education, employment, entrepreneurship, and the economy. His vision for an inclusive, developed Sarawak by 2030 is a guiding star, and his dual role as Minister of Finance gives him the authority to steer resources towards closing the gaps that matter most.
Lessons from Global Friends: A Blended Path Forward
Sarawak does not walk this path alone. Around the world, inspiring examples show that when you nurture rural women, entire societies bloom.
- Vietnam teaches us the value of structured, top-down policy, but also the necessity of robust implementation to overcome ingrained biases. Its Project 8, which established 248 community communication teams and 5 livelihood support cooperatives, shows how policy dialogues and gender mainstreaming training can change community awareness and enhance economic power.
- Commonwealth nations like Canada offer replicable models for financial and digital literacy training.
- Peru demonstrates the power of linking rural infrastructure to women’s economic empowerment: a World Bank study found that 77% of women reported improved road infrastructure enabled them to travel more easily for work and services, a finding that strongly supports linking Sarawak’s infrastructure projects to targeted benefits for women.
- Germany shows how gender equality can be integrated into environmental sectors like hydropower, a model relevant to Sarawak’s renewable energy ambitions.
The lesson is clear: there is no silver bullet. Success lies in a blended approach, structured policy, skills and finance support, infrastructure that connects women to markets, and a genuine political commitment to see the vision of an inclusive, developed Sarawak become a reality for all.
A Vision of Love in Action
Premier Abang Johari’s vision for Sarawak is one where economic growth is matched by social equity. It is a vision of ngesep, not just in appearance, but in essence: carrying oneself with dignity, leading with kindness, and lifting others as you rise. When we invest in rural women, we invest in resilient families, in authentic communities, and in a future where every person has the opportunity to thrive.
This is not just policy. This is love in action. It is the Sarawak Government’s promise, communicated through townhalls, outreach programmes, and the SarawakKu Sayang initiative, that no woman, no matter how remote her village, will be left behind.
Let us walk this path together, with resilience, authenticity, kindness, advocacy, and nurturing, building a Sarawak where every woman can shine, and in shining, illuminate the world around her.
References
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- Sarawak Tribune. (2025, November 10). PPIS hopeful for inclusive 2026 Sarawak Budget.
- Sarawak Tribune. (2026, March 19). Federal ministry committed to empowering Sarawak’s rural women.
- Borneo Post Online. (2025, September 19). 13MP: Rural women in Sarawak urged to take bigger leadership role to meet 60 pct participation target.
- Borneo Post Online. (2025, October 23). Sarawak champions women’s inclusion in digital transformation, says Fatimah.
- Bernama. (2025, June 12). KPWKM Continues To Empower Women In Digital Economy Through Wanita Gig@BIT 2025.
- UKAS Sarawak. (2025, December 7). Women Encouraged To Embrace Digital Technology.
- UNIMAS IR. (2025). *Strengthening Bidayuh women entrepreneurs in Kampung Singai, Sarawak through the 3D-Impak model for rural transformation*.
- Sarawak Tribune. (2025, July 20). Dayak Heritage Inspiring New Frontiers.
- Bernama. (2025, August 30). TEKUN Nasional Launches Wanita KASEH To Empower Women Entrepreneurs.
- SAYS. (2025, November 10). 200 Women From Underserved Communities Graduate From WOW Programme, Boosting Income By 60%.
- Vietnam.vn. (2025, September 5). Vietnam Women’s Union inspects and supervises the implementation of Project 8 in Lam Dong province.
