PUTRAJAYA (Feb 23): The Economic Planning Unit (EPU) and the United Nations (UN) has unveiled the Malaysia Millennium Development Goals 2015 (MDG) report, which outlines the performance and outcome of development efforts at national and sub-national levels over the past 15 years, along with the key challenges faced.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar said Malaysia progressed well since the inception of the MDG in September 2000, which had pushed for global initiatives in combating poverty.

"Based on the MDG targets we set back in year 2000, we have achieved most of the targets. The report outlines the targets we have achieved and areas [we have to] continue to work on to meet the new targets set for 2030 under the SDGs (sustainable development goals)," he told the press today.

According to the UN, the 2030 agenda consists of 17 new SDGs or global goals to guide policy and funding over the next 15 years, to ultimately eradicate poverty.

He highlighted that most of the targets set have been met, for example gender equality and reduction in poverty.

"In terms of the empowerment of women, we have achieved that in education and in fact, we have surpassed it. We need to worry more about our male students now, as they are not doing as well as the females in schools and universities.

"When it comes to female labour force participation, currently it stands at 53%. Meanwhile, on the role of women in senior leadership roles, [it] is improving but still can be better. At the Board of directors level of all registered companies, it stands at 29.5%. That is some of the unfinished business that we need to address," he said.

Across the board, Wahid said Malaysia progressed relatively better than other countries with a similar structure in the ASEAN region.

Although Malaysia is still considered as an upper middle income economy, he said that the country has first world infrastructure. However, the focus now is to improve on upgrading Malaysia's maintenance structure and also on improvements in non-economic aspects, such as civic mindedness.