Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Women’s Lab Workshop (Phase Two, Incubator Lab) has been described as an important platform to empower women in the State, in line with the direction of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Development Plan 2021-2025.
Sabah Minister of Community Development and People’s Wellbeing, Datuk James Ratib, said the participants’ involvement in the workshop reflects a strong commitment to gaining knowledge, skills and self-competitiveness.
“Workshops like this are not only a space to gain knowledge and share experiences, but also strengthen collaboration networks, exchange views, and spark constructive ideas.
“I hope all participants will make full use of the input received during this workshop to generate innovation and create a positive impact in their respective fields,” he said when officiating the workshop on Tuesday.
According to him, the programme, jointly organised by the Sabah Women’s Affairs Department (Jhewa) and the Sabah Women’s Advisory Council (MPWS), deserves support as it fosters the development of women leaders with integrity, empathy and a strong emphasis on social justice.
He added that empowering women is also crucial to ensuring more quality female representation in public administration and politics, ultimately shaping policies that are more sensitive to women’s needs.
“The organisation of this workshop is also aligned with the principles of inclusivity and equal opportunity, which are among the core focuses of the SMJ Plan.
“It aims to improve the well-being of the people through competitive development involving all layers of society, including young women and the B40 group,” he said.
James explained that the women’s empowerment programme consists of several phases, including the Sabah Women’s Leader Symposium, scheduled for Aug 29, which will be officiated by the Sabah Chief Minister and attended by about 3,000 guests.
“All 75 workshop participants will be invited to attend the symposium and will automatically become part of the Glow @ Sabah Women Leader programme, a long-term project for women’s empowerment,” he added.
He also urged participants to treat the workshop as a starting point for personal transformation.
“Use all the knowledge and exposure gained over these two days as a foundation to step out of your comfort zone. Personal growth requires commitment, continuous effort, and courage,” he said.
