KOTA SAMARAHAN, April 12: The Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) Women’s Wing launched its election machinery today as well as revealed its manifesto.
Announced by the state BN Women chief Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah at the Kota Samarahan Civic Centre this afternoon, the key points of the manifesto included empowering women through politics, education and training, and economy.
“The women and mothers got a special mention during the National BN manifesto announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak recently. This means that the manifesto gives more room for us women and mothers for empowerment, and opens up a new playing field for us to contribute to the development of the country.
“In our state BN Women manifesto, we want more women representation in politics where 30 per cent of Dewan Negara membership are women; involvement and opportunities in at least 30 per cent in all sectors in the country; and to expand the involvement of and opportunities for women in decision-making,” she said.
In education and training, Fatimah said BN would push for more opportunities for women in vocational or Technical and Vocational Education (TVET), the PERMATA early childhood education training courses, and to help single mother entrepreneurs by providing skills training.
“In the economy sector, BN will establish a Women’s Economic COuncil, to establish a women entrepreneur transformation centre, relax the business loan requirements for single mothers, and to establish a cooperative for women,” said Fatimah.
She also praised the state BN manifesto’s six thrusts as greatly improving the involvement and contribution of women in the state’s development, especially in the state’s agenda to become a digital economy.
She gave assurance that under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, Sarawak would be able to achieve a high income state by the year 2030, adding that within his one-year-three-months of service as the Chief Minister, Abang Johari had announced or carried out no less than 40 initiatives to boost the state’s development agenda.
Fatimah also assured that the state BN Women would work hard for the state BN to not only defend 25 of its Parliamentary seats but to wrestle back four more in the coming general election (GE14).
She also announced that the BN Women would be setting up a Jalinan Rakyat Plus (JR+) initiative to better serve the voters during GE14.
“With this JR+, our Women machinery will go down to the ground, door-to-door of the voters to spread awareness on the importance of going out to vote. We will do our best to serve them, reach out to them, touch their hearts and engage their minds, and ensure that the BN spirit among the Women continues to shine, so that we will win with style,” said Fatimah.
Also present during the Sarawak BN Women Machinery launching and Manifesto unveiling were Abang Johari and National BN Women’s Chief Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil. — DayakDaily
