Rohani presents the Strategic Partner in Training Women in Digital Technology and Entrepreneurship award to Limkokwing University and Leadership in Capacity Building Towards Women Empowerment award to Lim Kok Wing University president Tan Sri Dr Prof Emeritus Dr Lim Kok Wing at the International Women’s Day celebrations. Limkokwing University vice-president Datuk Tiffanee Marie Lim (right) receives the awards on Dr Lim’s behalf. — Bernama photo
CYBERJAYA: More women should be made people’s representatives to fight for women’s rights and issues, said Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim.
She said at present, there were 22.4 per cent women in the Senate and 10.8 per cent in Dewan Rakyat.
She said even though political parties fielded women candidates in every general and state election, the number of women who won was still low.
“There could be certain reasons that women candidates are not chosen. Maybe the voters cannot accept women candidates?
“So women who have been in the world of politics for a long time can show the best example that women candidates or people’s representatives are willing to serve,” she said in a press conference held after the International Women’s Day celebrations 2018 at Universiti Teknologi Kreatif Limkokwing here yesterday.
Rohani said women must know their reason for getting into politics and not do it merely for their political interests.
“We welcome more women to participate in politics. Don’t just come in for political reasons but for something you want to fight for,”she said.
In her speech, Rohani said women’s participation in the labour force had progressively increased from 48 per cent in 2011 to 52.6 per cent in 2013 and 54.3 per cent in 2016.
She said the government was targeting women workforce participation at 59 per cent by 2020.
She added that the female labour participation rate in Malaysia had also climbed to 54.3 per cent in 2016 from 46.8 per cent in 2010.
“To attract more women to join and rejoin the workforce, the gender wage gap needs to be addressed,” she said.
In conjunction with the International Women’s Day 2018, Rohani also launched the KiddoCare application, which provides care-giving or babysitting services as well as smart play activities for children.
KiddoCare is a collaboration between the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry (KPWKM) and a local women-led impact-driven start-up company. The application will connect women and families to a large community of certified caregivers while simultaneously providing a great platform for caregivers to seek quality opportunities.
KiddoCare is now available for download on Google Play with App Store coming at the end of this March.
Managing Director of KiddoCare Nadira Yusoff said KiddoCare offers two packages – basic (RM30 an hour with minimum two hours) which consists of basic care-giving or babysitting services while premium (RM40 an hour with minimum two hours) offers more comprehensive services which extends to smart-play activities and expanding the child’s imagination without gadgets.
She said women who signed up as a caregiver will undergo background check and health screening as well as undergo a professional-certification programme, established by KiddoCare in collaboration with KPWKM and other relevant regulatory bodies before they can begin to offer their services.
She added that women who are interested in becoming a caregiver can register on www.kiddocare.my to undergo certification programme. — Bernama