Recognition for Pewasa founders

Kota Kinabalu: Founders and pioneer members of the Sabah Women's Organisation (Pewasa) will be duly recognised at the association's 40th anniversary celebration this Saturday.Patron of Pewasa, Toh Puan Hajah Dr Norlida Tan Sri Datuk R.M. Jasni will grace the occasion at the Magellan Sutera Hotel at 7.30pm.

Current President Hanizah Abdullah said the Patron will present the Anugerah Tokoh Nadi Penggerak Pewasa to three deserving women, and the Jasa Mu Dikenang Award to three others in recognition of their contributions.

Fourteen other pioneer members will also receive accolades.

"The Patron will also give out donations from Pewasa to two welfare institutions and a poor family from Kota Marudu," she said.

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About 500 people, including members from Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Putatan, Papar, Tuaran, Beaufort, Keningau, Sipitang, Kudat, Sandakan, Tawau and Lahad Datu.

Wife of the Chief Minister, Puan Sri Hajah Faridah Haji Tussin and Minister of Community Development and Consumer Affairs, Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid are among the guests.

According to Hanizah, who took over from longest-serving President Datuk Zahra Ismail in 2008, there will be 20 booths put up by members showcasing food, traditional cakes, handicraft items and other local products.

"Models will be parading the clothes made by our members who had completed a tailoring course, thanks to the RM10,000 funding from the State Government through the Sabah Women's Affairs Department (Jhewa).

We used the money to purchase three sewing-machines and the necessary accessories," she said.

Pewasa is the brainchild of Toh Puan Hajah Rahimah Stephens, then Minister of Social Welfare, the first woman in Sabah to be made a Minister in 1976.

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She then handpicked Datuk Ariah Tengku Ahmad, then a businesswoman, to form a protem committee of which she (Ariah) was Protem President. Pewasa was officially registered in 1978 and entrepreneur Jovinia Solibun became the Founder President. Ariah later became Minister of Social Services, culminating in her appointment as Sabah's first woman Deputy Chief Minister in 1993.

Solibun was succeeded by then Political Secretary to the Ministry of Social Welfare, Datuk Leong Pau Chu who stepped down in 1985 in favour of Zahra. - Mary Chin

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