Women bodies should hold more community empowerment events

KUCHING: Women associations in Sarawak are encouraged to organise more programmes to empower the community.

Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Law, MA63, and State-Federal Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, highlighted the vital role of women in women’s development for the betterment of society.

Speaking at the Sarawak Women and Food Symposium, she said that the Petra Jaya women’s community can learn new things beneficial for families, society, and overall women’s development from this programme.

Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali (second right) arriving at the Sarawak Women and Food Symposium closing ceremony accompanied by Zaiton Istiar Khan (right) Organising Chairman of the Symposium and Chairman of the Persatuan Masakan dan Kuih Muih Sarawak.

“The role and strength of women are crucial in society. Therefore, it is essential to equip women with the necessary knowledge to contribute to a better society.

“Hence, it is important for women’s non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to create various programmes that can benefit women,” she said in her speech when officiating at the programme organised by the Persatuan Masakan dan Kuih Muih Sarawak at a hotel here, today.

Hasidah was representing the Association of Wives of Ministers and Assistant Ministers of Sarawak (SABATI) president Puan Sri Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang at the event.

She also emphasised that such knowledgeable programmes could also help women socialise and prevent mental health and psychological issues from happening.

“Mental health issues should be addressed collectively, and one way to overcome them is by socialising, as done in today’s symposium,” she added.

Meanwhile, association’s chairlady and the symposium’s organising chairperson Zaiton Istiar Khan, said that this programme, in collaboration with the Women’s Bureau of N7 Samariang, marked the association’s first collaborative effort.

Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali (centre) together with Zaiton Istiar Khan (fifth right) Oranising Chairman of the Sarawak Women and Food Symposium and Chairman of the Persatuan Masakan dan Kuih Muih Sarawak, Dr Dayang Nurfizawati Abang Abdul Karim (fifth left) and others cutting the 20th anniversary cake of the association.

“The purpose of this programme is to educate participants about healthy eating, balanced diets, and exercise for the benefit of our physical and mental well-being.

“I am very satisfied with this symposium as the participants’ presence is highly encouraging,” she said.

The Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sarawak Campus also participated as guest speakers, enhancing cooperation between institutions and the association.