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Kota Kinabalu: Be focused – this oft-repeated sound advice from leaders, employers or superiors may become a cliché but it should not be ignored. That is exactly what Minister of Community Development and Consumer Affairs, Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid is reminding women about in conjunction with the State-level Women's Day celebration today.And she has added the Sehati Sejiwa element (One Heart One Soul) which is the theme for this year's celebration.

"Whatever you do, individually or as a team, be it in your home, organisation, workplace or in the community, your focus must be there. Work on it with your whole heart and soul. "Only then will you achieve the set vision or goal. Lack of focus could be one of the reasons why we sometimes fail in our personal endeavour, social undertaking, business venture or development project," she said matter-of-factly.

By the same token, Jainab, who is Karambunai Assemblywoman, felt that women who attend courses for the sake of collecting certificates of participation are devoid of focus. "You are neither here nor there. Go for results, just concentrate on one area or sector for a positive outcome," she advised.

Women must make up their mind – there are cases where they decide to take up sewing today but switch to cake-making the next day, according to the Minister. "It's rather aimless. There is no focus, and neither is it a wholehearted approach. This should not be the case. Be convergent, not divergent."

And based on feedback, some women simply put away the equipment, for example sewing-machines or cake-making apparatus, after receiving them from the Government under the 1Azam programme (for poverty eradication). "I am very disappointed. They are not making good use of the facilities provided at the end of the day," said Jainab.