KOTA KINABALU: Seven committees created under the Sabah Women's Advisory Council (MPWS) have been asked to assist the state government in empowering women development, especially in rural areas.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said this included intensifying activities that can improve women's socio-economic conditions throughout the state.
"MPWS, through these seven committees, needs to intensify efforts to make programmes that will benefit women by raising their earnings.
"I want MPWS to focus on efforts to increase income sources of women, especially those involved in trading and small and medium industries.
"There is also a lot of assistance provided by the state and federal governments to help the traders in this country," he said in explaining that the MPWS through its committees could help educate and spread the forms to the targeted people.
Hajiji said this at the swearing-in ceremony of the chairman and members of the MPWS 2023-2024 at the Chief Minister's Office at Menara Kinabalu here on Monday (March 13).
Seven sub-committees have been created under MPWS, namely Economy, Education, Social, Health, Law, Gender, Women and Media, which are aimed at mobilising efforts for the advancement of women.
Hajiji also wants MPWS to act as a think tank for project and policy implementation that would further assist women.
"We want to make sure that women in this state are not left behind in the current development and progress brought by the government.
"We want women to be more competitive and knowledgeable so that they continue to progress simultaneously with the change and development of the country.
"I believe MPWS also bears the responsibility," he added.
Hajiji said the state government allocated RM5.83mil to the Sabah Women's Affairs Department this year to fund various leadership programmes and women's development programmes.
He said micro-loan facilities for women will continue with an allocation of RM10mil channelled to Yayasan Usaha Maju (YUM).
"Women's development is one of the important agendas being focused for state development," he said.
He also hoped that the 12 appointed members of MPWS for the 2023-24, chaired by Datuk Dr Tarsiah TZ Taman, will contribute ideas, time and energy to implement the women's development agenda in Sabah.
