Harmful gender norms continue to pose one of the biggest barriers for women pursuing careers in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector – and it’s time to challenge them, said Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) chief enforcement officer Eneng Faridah Iskandar.
Speaking at a pocket talk session during the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) 2025 celebration here, Eneng said gender norms often go unquestioned because they are inherited from the past – but they no longer fit the reality of modern Malaysia.
“Gender norms can be very negative sometimes, because it’s something that is set in the past. But how does it change with the current times?” she said.
“Perhaps it’s time to rethink and change that perspective.”
Her presentation, titled “From Learners to Leaders: Empowering the Next Generation of Women in Tech”, focused on how creating a culture of empowerment can shift the narrative for young girls in the ICT sector.
To do that, she said, society must first build an enabling environment – one that not only acknowledges the challenges girls face, but actively opens doors to opportunity.
“It’s about understanding the challenges and also the opportunities. When you talk about girls and girls in leadership roles, it’s about understanding those challenges. But more importantly, it’s about identifying the opportunities you can provide or embark on.”
Eneng also spoke about the importance of access to skills and digital literacy – key pillars of MCMC’s empowerment agenda. She pointed to the National Information Dissemination Centre (Nadi) as one such initiative that offers free digital training and entrepreneurship courses for women across Malaysia.
“Nadi is a platform where we provide basic digital training and skills to the rakyat. We also provide for women who want to start businesses. There are many opportunities – what’s important is knowing these things exist and reaching out.”
The talk also addressed the importance of giving girls room to lead and supporting their voices in tech-related spaces. She said leadership isn’t just about position, but about the opportunity to grow into a role that traditionally may have excluded women.
“It’s all about leadership qualities. What does it take for girls to become leaders? There are opportunities now, but sometimes, the barriers are still there.”
Eneng encouraged young women to take ownership of their journeys and not wait for permission to speak up or lead.
“If you want to say something, say it. Don’t hide it. You want to make sure your voice is heard, your opinion is heard — and that it makes sense, of course.”
She closed by reminding the audience – many of them students and young professionals – that empowerment starts with choice. But to make informed choices, girls need exposure to what’s possible.
“There are no limits when you talk about making choices. Girls can be anything – doctors, lawyers, CEOs. But a lot of the time, it’s because we don’t know what the choices are,” Eneng concluded.
This article originally appeared on Scoop.my and was written by Scoop journalist, Fabian Peter.