Ragad (third left) greets SFWI members upon her arrival at the charity dinner. She is accompanied by (from left) Norjanah and Jamilah.
KUCHING: Local non-governmental organisations (NGOs), particularly the women-based ones, are encouraged to carry out more charitable activities.
The chief minister’s wife Datin Patinggi Datuk Jamilah Anu said such programmes could be intensified through collaborative efforts among the NGOs in helping the needy across the state.
“Members of SFWI (Sarawak Federation of Women’s Institutes) and Sabati (Association of Wives of Ministers and Assistant Ministers of Sarawak) often run charitable works, and their efforts should be emulated,” she said at the ‘SFWI Charity Dinner’ at a hotel here on Saturday, which was graced by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri’s wife Toh Puan Ragad Kurdi Taib, who is also SFWI patron.
Jamilah, who is Sabati president, also hoped that the 53-year-old SFWI would conduct more activities slated for attracting the younger generation to join the NGO.
Echoing similar sentiment, SFWI chairperson Norjanah Razali called for more strategic collaborations between SFWI and other organisations.
“This is to ensure that SFWI would move forward in line with the progress, while remaining relevant as a women-focused NGO in the state.”
The charity dinner was held with the objective of raising funds for the construction of the new SFWI building.
The organisation is currently looking a proper site to house its headquarters, which is expected to feature a multi-purpose hall, skills centre as well as a place to hold entrepreneurial activities.
The event was also attended by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim, Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri and wife of State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker, Datin Amar Fatimah Mohd Iskandar.