KUCHING: Association of Wives of Ministers and Assistant Ministers of Sarawak (Sabati) president Datin Patinggi Datuk Jamilah Anu was honoured with the Datuk Patinggi Laila Taib Award here yesterday.
Jamilah (third left) with (from left) Salmah, Ellis, Raoyah, Sereni and Lee in a photo call after the award presentation ceremony. —Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
Jamilah, also a founder of Sarawak Heart Foundation, received the award and RM5,000 from Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem during the state-level Women’s Day 2014 celebration.
In his speech, Adenan said Jamilah had been active in social work long before he was sworn in as the chief minister of Sarawak.
“I have nothing to do with my wife receiving an award today. But let me tell you, she has been doing social work not only now, but way before I was even an assistant minister.
“She has always been active. Perhaps, the reason why she does what she does is because she came from a very poor family, and she was handicapped when young.
“So, there you are, she will carry on her social work,” he said to over a thousand participants, mostly women, at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister’s Woman Social Worker Award went to Ellis Suryati Omar.
In 2007, Ellis, Lions Nursing Home chairperson, was honoured with the ‘Ambassador of Peace’ from Universal Peace Federation. And in 2010, Lions Club International honoured her with the ‘Ambassador of Goodwill’ award.
Sereni Linggi and Shentel Lee were awarded the Chief Minister’s Woman Entrepreneurs for their successful Made-in-Borneo headband and accessories. Both women are offering a rich variety of headbands for adults, children and babies for any occasion. Their headbands have made it to US hit TV series Gossip Girl and Desperate Housewives.
A political secretary to the Chief Minister, Dayang Raoyah Abang Adeng, received the Chief Minister’s Woman Leadership Award, while Sarawak Single Mothers Association (Pitsa) walked away with the Chief Minister’s Best Woman Association Award.
Except for the Best Woman Association Award that came with a RM10,000 cash incentive, the other recipients were given RM3,000 each.
Each one of them also received a locally-made handbag, a trophy, and a certificate.
Among those present were Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah and Pitsa president Salmah Ibrahim.