Sarawak Development Institute - SDI

Members of SDI, the Sarawak Civil Service, private sector, academia, and civil society gathered for a one and half-day workshop on 7 to 8 May aimed at strengthening institutional solutions for climate action in Sarawak, underscoring a growing commitment to address the state’s climate challenges in a coordinated and sustainable manner.

This workshop was organised by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Malaysia in partnership with SDI and supported by the Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability (MEESty) Sarawak.

Special appreciations to Ms. Carmen Loo of the World Bank and Associate Professor Ts. Noraziah binti Abdul Wahab of UNIMAS, and a member of SDI, for their time and expertise in making this workshop a success.

Thank you to all who came to contribute and participate in this eventful workshop!

Honouring the dedication and hard work of every worker this International Labour Day.

Your contributions continue to drive our progress towards a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable Sarawak.

For all observing Good Friday, we pause in quiet reflection — remembering sacrifice, compassion, and love that endures even through suffering.

In anticipating Easter Sunday, we remember that hope can rise, even after the darkest moments.

Wishing peace and joy to all.

We are happy to share Volume 16 of our quarterly e-Newsletter with a fresh-new look! Check out the special articles in conjunction with International Women's Day and Part 3 of the article series on Carbon in the newsletter on our website.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri to all our Muslim members and those celebrating! Maaf Zahir dan Batin from all of us in SDI.

In celebration of International Women's Day, we recognize and appreciate the invaluable contributions of women in our communities, workplaces, and families. Your strength and dedication continue to inspire us all.





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As we approach International Women’s Day, we dive into the latest Malaysia Gender Gap Index (MGGI). In 2024, Malaysia achieved a score of 0.708, showing steady progress in bridging the national gender gap.
While women in Malaysia are currently outperforming men in Educational Attainment (1.073)—with higher gross enrolment rates across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels—challenges remain in the professional and political spheres.

Key 2024 Insights:

Education: Women lead with a 56.4% enrolment rate at the tertiary level compared to 37.0% for men.
Health: Women continue to demonstrate resilience, with a life expectancy of 77.6 years.

Opportunity: While women earn approximately RM93.08 for every RM100 earned by men, their participation as legislators, senior officials, and managers stands at 27.1%.

Political Empowerment (0.096): Only 13.5% of Parliament members and 16.1% of ministerial positions are held by women — still significantly lower than men in 2024.

At SDI, we believe that research is the first step toward equity. We look forward to sharing a deeper conversation on what these numbers mean for Sarawak's women in our upcoming Newsletter Volume 16.

Sources: Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI), World Economic Forum (WEF), Department of Statistic Malaysia (DOSM)

Selamat Memperingati Nuzul Al-Quran.
May the teachings of the Holy Quran guide our hearts, inspire our actions, and bring blessings to all.

Salam Ramadan to our Muslim families and friends.

May this blessed month strengthen your faith, bring peace to your heart, and fill your days with barakah.

Wishing you a smooth and meaningful fasting month.

Ramadan Mubarak!