Mohamad Azhan (second from left) handing Sheila her award at the Women’s Day celebration. Looking on are Sharipah Marhaini (left) and the mayor’s wife, Farah Hanini Abdul Rahman.
A number of women in Petaling Jaya have contributed significantly to the sustainable development of the city and their efforts have not gone unnoticed.
Their endeavours were acknowledged by Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) in a recent Women’s Day celebration held at the city council’s banquet hall.
Some 14 women were recognised in different categories, including Star Media Group journalist Sheila Sri Priya for bringing to light sustainability issues.
For her role in highlighting the impact of sustainable development on the environment and society through her articles in StarMetro, she was awarded the “Anugerah Wanita Berdaya Dalam Bidang Kewartawanan” (Powerful Woman in Journalism Award).
Mary Ong was honoured for her contribution to squash, as she trained World Youth Squash champion Ong Beng Hee in 1998 while Datin PH Wong received an award for her work on child-friendly city projects.
Also on the honours list were Tetra Pak (Malaysia) Asean sustainability director Terrynz Tan, Lulu Goh, who served as Petaling Jaya City Council Treasury Department director for 20 years, National Anti-Drugs Agency Petaling district chief officer Mazlina Kassim, town planner and Universiti Malaya lecturer Associate Professor Dr Melasutra Md Dali as well as Malaysian Institute of Planners’ Datin Mazrina Khalid, who has been part of the Petaling Jaya Sustainable Community Award jury team since 2016.
Additionally, awards were handed to Urbanice Malaysia chief executive officer Norliza Hashim, Petaling Jaya councillor Ermeemarianna Saadon for her role in empowering women through Pusat Wanita Berdaya (Capable Women Centre), and MBPJ director Sharinaz Samsudin, who increased the city council’s revenue by RM77.8mil since 2010 through various policies in the city.
Meanwhile, deputy mayor Sharipah Marhaini Syed Ali was recognised for championing sustainable development projects in the city over the decades and Assoc Prof Dr Naziaty Mohd Yaacob was awarded for advocating for disabled-friendly access to facilities.
Honoured as well was businesswoman Siti Sabrina, who first started a bakery in Taman Medan and now has 19 branches and four factories under Mamasab International Sdn Bhd.
Petaling Jaya mayor Mohamad Azhan Md Amir said the city council appreciated and acknowledged women’s contributions to the city.
He said this was MBPJ’s first International Women’s Day celebration and it might become a yearly event for the council.
“The city council has 631 female employees, who make up 34% of its workforce, and we have a 25% representation of female councillors too.
“We have women of calibre in MBPJ’s workforce such as deputy mayor Sharipah Marhaini, who has been behind some of the city’s initiatives such as Petaling Jaya Smart, Sustainable and Resilient 2030, Petaling Jaya Community Grant and Petaling Jaya Smart Centre,” he said.
Mohamad Azhan reiterated that women should always be supported.
