Published on: Friday, November 20, 2009 |
Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah State Government has always been very supportive of women's development.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said Wednesday, for many years, women in Sabah had wanted a woman to hold a ministerial post in the Cabinet.
"I have fulfilled your wishes by appointing YB Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun as the Minister of Community Development and Consumer Affairs. We are also proud that YB Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin is now the Head of Puteri UMNO and Federal Deputy Health Minister while Datuk Armani is the Deputy Speaker of the Senate.
"This goes to show that women in Sabah are very capable and can hold high positions at national level. We also have capable women in the State Civil Service, with some holding very senior positions. Women in our civil service are dedicated and committed, and I must thank them for their hard work," he said when officiating at the Sabah Women Entrepreneurs & Professionals Association (Swepa) Installation and Charity Dinner in aid of the Food for the Hungry International (FHI), Sabah, Malaysia at Magellan Sutera Hotel here.
Musa said the State Government has also shown its support for women in Sabah by providing the Wisma Wanita building.
"It now stands tall at Jalan Tuaran. I must credit Datuk Noni Said, the former MPWS Chairperson and Datuk Asnimar Sukardi, the present MPWS Chairperson, for being so persistent in getting land and funding from the State Government."
The Chief Minister assured that the Government would always support women and organisations that strive to improve the well-being of women. "Sabah benefits from contributions and efforts of women. As mentioned by Datuk Adeline Leong (newly-installed Swepa President), women form 50 per cent of the State's population. This is a huge pool of human reousrce to tap into for the State's development and economic growth," he said.
Also present were Musa's wife Datin Hjh Faridah Hj Tussin, Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Youth & Sports, Datuk Peter Pang En Yin, Minister of Community Development & Consumer Affairs, Datuk Hjh Azizah Mohd Dun and husband, Hj Paiman Hj Abd Karim, Minister of Tourism, Culture & Environment, Datuk Masidi Manjun, City Mayor Datuk Iliyas Ibrahim and wife Datin Naimah Hassan, Toh Puan Hjh Rahimah Stephens and Datuk Ariah Tengku Ahmad.
Swepa past presidents were also present - Sue Yong, Fatimah Yassin and Doris Lim.
Describing Swepa as a top women organisation in Sabah, Musa said it is a fine example of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that assists the State Government in its efforts to build a better society.
He noted that Swepa has been under the leadership of some capable women like its Founder President Datuk Nancy Ho who turned it into a dynamic organisation during her term.
"And now, Swepa starts a new phase under the leadership of a former prominent civil servant, Datuk Adeline Leong. I must also congratulate Puan Dolly Jimayol, the Immediate Past President, for her efforts in leading the organisation for the last two years," he said. Since its formation 16 years ago, Swepa has organised a wide range of activities, including business conventions that provide opportunities for members to excel in their businesses and careers.
"You have helped encourage young women to become confident and empowered them through your training programmes so that they can serve the community better."
Musa wants women-related organisations to conduct more outreach programmes, especially to rural areas. "This is where you can identify the needs of women who may be facing problems due to their remote locations."
According to him, there are women in rural areas who are hard-working and keen to market their products "but do not have knowledge in marketing or even access to businesses that could sell their products."
He suggested that women, who usually shop for their households and know what to buy for their families, should provide the Government useful feedback on consumer products "so that we will know if there are critical items which are over-priced or out of stock."
"It is most apt that we have appointed Datuk Azizah into her current portfolio. As a woman and mother, she is able to relate to problems that women face in getting consumer products and how rising costs impact on their livelihoods."
At this juncture, the Chief Minister encouraged Swepa to carry out environment-related projects to create awareness on the importance of saving the environment.
Saying climate change prevails and we are now experiencing extreme temperatures and violent storms, Musa emphasised the need for concerted plans to reduce carbon emissions.
"I believe Swepa could play its part by organising talks and seminars on this critical issue of climate change, and what women can do to find solutions to reduce carbon emissions at least in Sabah," he said.
