Key roles for 3 Sabah women
Published on: Saturday, March 22, 2008
Kota Kinabalu: The representation of women in the Sabah State Cabinet may not have increased in number, but the three top women in the State Government have been delegated tasks that are considered significant for women's development.Sabah Women Advisory Council (MPWS) Chairwoman Datin Asnimar Sukardi said the Government not only fulfilled the call of women movements in the State to promote a woman to a full Minister, it also placed two women assistant ministers in relevant ministries that could help deal with major issues faced by women."Although the men in the government have done a great job in advocating the rights of women, it still takes a woman to understand another woman's dilemma.
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"I thank Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman for answering our (women movements) call to put a woman as a full Minister under his administration and the portfolio (Community Development and Consumer Affairs) that was given to her (Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun) proved the Government's concern towards the women in Sabah," she said.Asnimar said the Minister Azizah, who was formerly Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister, had the calibre to uphold the rights of women as Azizah is a lawyer by training.Azizah is the first woman to be made a full Minister since Datuk Dayang Mahani Tun Pengiran Ahmad Raffae, who was Rural Development Minister, in 1999.On the provision of a woman assistant minister in the Finance Ministry, Asnimar said the Government was recognising women's aptitude in financial management.
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"Now that we have Melanie Chia as one of the Assistant Finance Ministers (the other Assistant Minister is Datuk Tawfik Abu Bakar Titingan), I believe she will make considerations to planning and allocations that women in Sabah need in order to excel in many fields.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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Meanwhile, Assistant Industrial Development Minister Jainab Ahmad is holding her post for the second term which she says gave her ideas to help women advance economically.
