Women held 35% of board seats at Malaysia’s top 100 public-listed companies (PLCs) as of July 2026. Across all PLCs, women held 29.8% of seats. The figures place the country close to the 30% milestone the 30% Club Malaysia champions.
Nurul A’in Abdul Latif, chair of the club and executive chair of PwC Malaysia, shared the figures at the 30% Club Malaysia Board Mentoring Celebration 2026 in Kuala Lumpur. She said representation has improved every year. She noted the top 100 PLCs tend to be bigger and a bit more compliant.She urged companies to look beyond headcount. She warned against form over substance and wants women to add real value to boards. The event theme, “Beyond the Numbers: From Representation to Real Influence”, reflects this goal.
She said the next phase should test whether more women on boards leads to better decisions, strategy and governance. A PwC Malaysia survey of board chairmen and directors found respondents believed gender diversity had improved their boards. Measuring the direct effect on performance remains hard.
Many conversations and early decisions happen before formal board meetings. Nurul A’in said diversity decides who sits in the room, and inclusion decides who is heard, valued and able to shape decisions.
The club set up the Board Mentoring Scheme with PwC Malaysia in 2017. The structured 9-month programme pairs aspiring directors with experienced board members. It has supported over 179 senior women leaders across 11 cohorts.