KUCHING, Jan 4: In conjunction with Empowering Women Year 2018, the Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Ministry will be identifying and focusing on seven core areas to empower women in the state particularly from the rural areas.
Its minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the ministry, through its Department of Women and Family, would focus on the seven core areas of education and skills training; strengthening of family institution; laws; leadership; health; economy; and culture.
Speaking at a press conference at Wisma Baitul Makmur in Petra Jaya here today, she said the ministry would come up with strategic plans to address each of the core areas.
“Under each core (area) we have a key performance index (KPI) which is the effectiveness of the programmes and the outcome by the end of this year. After that we will identify the needs according to areas within the state, as well as the budget required to carry out programmes,” said Fatimah.
She elaborated that it has been the state government’s intention to strengthen women particularly in the field of economics and politics to be part of the decision-makers, as proven during the time of late chief minister Pehin Sri Adenan Satem who had been very supportive of the roles and contributions of women to the development of the state.
Among them was in 2016, where Adenan encouraged Barisan (BN) component parties to field women candidates during the last state election.
“It has been the state government’s intention until now, as the late Adenan even upgraded a unit under my ministry to its own department — the Department of Women and Family,” said Fatimah.
She added that through the National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS), her ministry will be working closely with other ministries and government departments to ensure the success of the programmes.
Earlier, Fatimah received a courtesy call from a delegation from the Kuching Melanau Association and e-DOK (Dalat, Oya, Kut), to brief her on their activities for 2018.
Several programmes are in the pipeline for the Melanau community in the city this year. Among them would be the setting up of a mini food court to be called The Belanga, as well as setting up mini markets within the vicinity of the association’s premises at Jalan Ong Tiang Swee here.
Dates have not been decided yet in view of the upcoming General Election. — DayakDaily
