The 2027 budget tabled on Oct 9 included benefits for women such as longer maternity leave for civil servants and tax relief for postpartum care. (Bernama pic)PETALING JAYA: The All Women’s Action Society (Awam) has urged MPs to scrutinise the 2027 budget through a gender lens when Parliament debates the allocations in the coming weeks, saying they fall short of addressing longstanding issues affecting women.

Awam president Lai Suat Yan said the budget made some improvements, including extra aid for care work, better maternity leave entitlement, and upgrades to childcare facilities at government premises, but remained “largely a disappointment".

Lai said the budget failed to adequately address issues such as gender-based violence, low workforce participation, and unequal burden of unpaid care work.