KUALA LUMPUR: Women should not use their career as an excuse to neglect motherly duties at home, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor said yesterday.The prime minister’s wife said, while there was no doubt that working mothers also contributed to the country’s economic growth, yet, many were unable to understand their children’s behavioural and emotional patterns.
Rosmah attributed that to their motherly duties being shouldered by other social institutions like maids, nurseries and teachers.
“I would like to stress here that career cannot be used as an excuse to neglect our duties towards our children and family.
“Working mothers should be smart in finding a balance between work and family so that their children’s personality development will not be jeopardised,” she said at the presentation of the ‘Tokoh Ibu Cemerlang Award’, in conjunction with Cheras Umno Mothers’ Day celebration here yesterday.
Also present were Cheras Umno chief Datuk Syed Ali Alhabshee and Cheras Wanita Umno chief Datuk Faridah Abu Hassan.
Meanwhile, 10 mothers from Cheras Umno, MCA, MIC and PPP received the ‘Tokoh Ibu’ awards from Rosmah.
Among the recipients were Halimah Mohd Taff, Che Maizon Yaacob, Hasnah Yusoff, Haniyah Shaharudin, Woo Choon Lan, Lee Nyuk Lean, P Dewi and V M Gandhi.
Hasnah, 57, a housewife, expressed gratitude over the award and said she least expected recognition and appreciation for her sacrifices in raising five children.
“I did not expect Wanita Umno to present the award to me. It (award) makes my struggles as Cheras Umno committee member, worth the effort,” she added. — Bernama