In his International Women's Day message, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has urged men to be bold for change.

As the nation heads towards 2020, the premier said his ambition is to see women being equal partners and drivers of growth.

“To do that, even more so for men, we must challenge gender bias and inequality, campaign against violence, shape women's advancement, celebrate women's achievement and champion women's rights for equal education,” he added in a blog posting.

Najib said that everyone must be involved and play their part.

“I want all, especially men to #BeBoldForChange. Then and only then, men and women can be equal partners.

“I urge everyone, in their own respective spheres of influence to help forge a better world – a more gender inclusive world, for our mothers, our wives, our sisters and our daughters. For when women succeed, we all triumph together,” he added.

The prime minister said he felt proud that Malaysian women have made numerous strides forward, far surpassing his vision of having 30 percent of women in decision-making positions in the public sector by 2016.

“By August 2015, we accomplished 37 percent. But there is still so much more to be done before we achieve gender parity around the world,” he added.