KOTA KINABALU: National Council of Women’s Organization (NCWO) chairperson Professor Tan Sri Dr Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Shahabudin is impressed with women’s development in Sabah and how it has positively uplifted women in the state.
Dr Sharifah told reporters that because of the state government’s assistance to women, their future in Sabah is very bright.
She said this at a press conference after witnessing Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman officiate the ‘Wanita Penggerak Transformasi Negara’ seminar here yesterday.
“We are very impressed by the development Sabah is experiencing and how it has spilled over to the women in the state, especially in the form of assistance the government gives to them. I feel that the future of women in Sabah is very bright,” she said.
Dr Sharifah added that while NCWO’s presence in Sabah was to see the role of women in the transformation program, they also wanted to find out their strengths as well as weaknesses.
“I heard from the Chief Minister’s speech that there are many areas in which women in Sabah are strong. Maybe we will learn from Sabah and bring the knowledge to other areas,” she said.
When asked to comment on Musa’s suggestion that more similar programs be held in Sabah, Dr Sharifah replied, “that would probably be the follow up from here. We will see what are the major issues and we will follow up. We will collect all information and compile it into a strategic plan for women to develop alongside the transformation programs,” she stressed.
Meanwhile, Musa in his speech disclosed that the government has set up a special fund under Yayasan Usaha Maju (YUM) to provide soft loans to women and others who needed financial assistance to start small businesses.
YUM, he said, gives out between RM10,000 and RM30,000 as a soft loans and many of those who have used this financial assistance are single mothers.
“I am happy to say here that women who took the loans are very good in repaying their loans so we are continuing this assistance because even though the amount is small, it means a lot to the women as it allows them to start small businesses and earn a living,” he added.
Musa also welcomed NCWO’s initiative in organising the seminar which aims to produce a pool of authoritative women and added, “we realize women play an important role in contributing to the development of the state.
“They are also influential and play a role together with the men in efforts to develop the country and state,” he stressed.
The state government, he pointed out, is always supportive of women and their contribution and its support is reflected in the RM13 million Wisma Wanita that was built especially for the women in Sabah.