SHAH ALAM: 81.2% of women and only 57.68% of men in Selangor are university graduates, although women’s participation in politics and economic sector are lower than men.

Bukit Melawati state assemblyman Juwairiya Zulkifli, who is also the political secretary to Selangor Menteri Besar, said Selangor women are high achievers in education sector.

However, the Malaysia Gender Gap Index shows that men draw higher salaries than women.

Juwairiya said figures showed the average salary for professional women is RM4,841 while that for men is much higher at RM5,967.

The average salary for women at managerial level is RM5,832 but men earn more at RM6,790.

“There are employers who are biased against women’s capability affecting the assessment, promotion and career development of women,” she said.

Juwairiya was representing Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari at an event organized by Wanita Berdaya Selangor (WBS) to present scholarships to women recipients at the Shah Alam Convention Centre.

The Selangor state government has allocated RM200,000 for WBS scholarships for female university students in Budget 2022.

A total of 13 women – three pursuing diploma courses, seven studying in university, two in master’s program and one in doctorate program – received the scholarships.