With the general election due within weeks if not days, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today sought to shore up the ruling coalition's critical voter base with a women's rally in the administrative capital of Putrajaya.

The gathering of some 20,000 purple-clad women was not only a belated celebration of March 8's International Women's Day but a final dash to court a group which have proven to be more receptive to government initiatives compared to their male counterparts.

najib women walk putrajaya 170313 "The face of Putrajaya has turned purple with thousands of women gathering here today... This is a manifestation of our joint-struggle, not only the struggle of women but also the struggle of the government (for women's empowerment)," declared Najib.

While stressing that the country had long acknowledged women since pre-independence days, Najib said the government was striving for more than just providing welfare to women.

"I am confident that we do not only acknowledge women but we want to empower them," he said.

The premier called on women to join the government in becoming agents of transformation towards achieving the status of a high income nation.

According to a Dec 26, 2012 to Jan 11, 2013 survey by Universiti Malaya Centre for Democracy and Elections, women were generally more receptive to the government's welfare efforts.

Women viewed the government's Klinik 1Malaysia and Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia initiatives more favourably by seven points more than the national average of 73 percent.

Similarly, their favourable view of the Budget 2013 was eight points higher than the national average of 55 percent.

'Gov't empowering women'

Najib also boasted the government's present achievements in empowering women, pointing out that 62 percent of students in varsities are women.

He added that 30 of 62 High Court judges are also women and the country now has seven ministerial secretary-generals who are women.

NONE "This (proportion of women judges) is perhaps one of the highest in the world," he said.

He added the government is working to put more women on boards of directors and called on government-linked companies as well as the private sector to respond in kind.

Najib praised women for being disciplined and hardworking, saying that 96 percent of women paid their debts on time.

"But I'm not talking about the men," he quipped.

"I am confident that the women in Malaysia will continue to progress and succeed.

"If women are empowered and strengthened, our ambition to become a high income nation will be achieved," said Najib.