There is a host of politically-motivated, well-intentioned, policy statements on women and poverty, yet they are not being followed up adequately with research due to inaccessibility to relevant information from government agencies, a senior researcher complained.

Citing the example of the chapter on 'Women and Development' in the 8th Malaysia Plan, Prof Dr Jamilah Ariffin (photo) asked whether such policy statements were backed by concrete action to encourage research.

She questioned the lack of specific funds allocated to nationwide study on women and poverty, or poor, female-headed households, the number of studies commissioned and completed so far.