KUCHING: Women need to have the courage to step forward to lead and set a clear vision and direction in order to play a greater role in shaping society, says Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri (pic).
She said leadership was not merely about politics or holding key positions, but about helping communities and meeting their needs.
“Politics is about taking care of others and their needs, so that must be in your plans, how you see yourself helping others.
“Leaders must also possess a high level of empathy and be capable of aligning their leadership spirit with their actions to benefit the community,” she said at the opening ceremony of the Apprentice Programme: Dayak Women and Grassroots Leadership in Governance, Decision-Making and Sustainable Development here yesterday.
Nancy reminded leaders to be astute in facing challenges, remain calm when resolving problems and know the right time to speak up, Bernama reported.
“A leader does not necessarily need to speak a lot, as there are times when one needs to remain silent and listen in order to learn something.
“Every individual holding a leadership position must also ensure there are tangible achievements that can be seen as giving back to society, or a return on investment, resulting from the responsibilities they have undertaken,” she added.
She described the success of Dr Florence Christie, who represented Sarawak at the Global Alliance for Healthy Cities 2026 Conference in Sydney, Australia, as proof that Sarawakian women can step onto the international stage.
