Nancy: Ministry to continue empowering women to be financially independent

KUCHING (Feb 10): The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development will continue to provide targeted assistance and programmes to women to ensure they are financially independent and able to contribute to their families and economy, said its minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.

She said that efforts such as providing capital and implementing initiatives like Program Wanita Dinamik were crucial to create opportunities for women to showcase their creativity.

“We need to do something for the women here so they can be independent. We provide them with capital and programmes such as Program Wanita Dinamik, and at the same time, open up space for them to express their own creativity,” she told reporters after the closing ceremony of the Dayung Warisan programme at the Old Courthouse here yesterday.

She said she was particularly drawn to Sarawak, as its unique culture and distinctive products offered strong potential for women-led enterprises.

She stressed that when women are able to generate income, they not only uplift themselves but also strengthen their families’ financial standing.

“When women are involved in businesses such as handicrafts, they are also contributing to the state’s economy. We do not want our women to be overly dependent on others, including their husbands or children, as children also have their own commitments,” she said.

She highlighted the importance of equipping women with knowledge and skills on how to monetise their talents, citing an example of producing simple batik using natural resources readily available in their surroundings such as leaves or plants.

“In my former parliamentary constituency, we encouraged women to produce batik. Today, they have successfully created their own batik products and are able to earn a living. We can also see many products (made by them) at places like India Street,” she said.

Beyond financial aid, she said the ministry also plays a role in providing necessary support, such as machinery and suitable workspaces to enable women to carry out their activities more efficiently.