PUTRAJAYA, sept 4- Malaysian women need to be bold, think creatively and equipment themselves with critical skills besides high knowledge to remain competitive, said the Prime Minister’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.
Rosmah said in her keynote addresses at various international forums she attended, she would take the opportunity to share with participants Malaysia’s story, particularly on the achievements, successes and excellence attained by Malaysian women.
“Besides this, I will also never leave out the hard work done and to be done by the Barisan Nasional government in bringing women in the mainstream of national development,” she said.
She said this in her speech at a special Aidilfitri open house held at Seri Perdana here Tuesday.
Also present were the Deputy Prime Minister’s wife Puan Sri Norainee Abdul Rahman; Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim; Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri, Puan Sri Rohani Abdullah, the wife of the Chief Secetary to the Government; Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and Puan Sri Masnah Rais, the wife of Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim, who is president of the International Islamic University, Malaysia (IIUM) and advisor to the government on social and cultural affairs.
Rais is the former Information Communication and Culture Minister.
The event was attended by 380 women leaders including from the Cabinet, Wanita Umno, Puteri Umno, judiciary, medical field, military, police, anggota Tunku Kurshiah College alumni, Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) and non-profit organisation Kasih (Badan Amal dan Kasih negeri Selangor.
Rosmah said women’s roles to leadership was not without obstacles and despite the many challenges they faced, Malaysian women were not discouraged but instead remained steadfast.
“We (Malaysian women) have been given the recognition and acknowledgement as major players in helping to shape the economy and social landscape of our community and country.
“Malaysian women are making waves in many areas of the society and professions…just look at the women present here in this hall (Seri Perdana’s hall), we are definitely not a passive contributor to nation building,” she said.
She added that Malaysian women must stand together as one and should be more visible and their voices should be clearly heard as their future was actually in their own hands.
– BERNAMA
