KUCHING: The Sarawak government has implemented various initiatives and policies to help women, said political secretary to the chief minister Tan Kai.
He pointed out that since 2014, various policies and initiatives for women empowerment in the field of entrepreneurship had been implemented under the leadership of Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
Through the policies and initiatives, various courses were offered to women including sewing courses, cooking courses, massage therapy courses as well as makeup and beauty courses.
“We want to encourage women to step out of the kitchen as their work is not only limited to that area,” he said, adding that a skills training centre had also been set up to provide professional training for women.
Tan Kai was speaking at the Sarawak Maidens, Culturally Beautiful Photography Competition and Charity Dinner held in conjunction with the International Women’s Day at SJK Chung Hua No.3 Assembly Hall here on Sunday evening.
He revealed that up to 20,000 women had participated in the various courses offered.
He added that last year, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari also launched a digital application to help women market their products.
He said the application had become a platform for women to grow their business in unison with the state’s digital economy development.
Tan Kai also said the state government provided incentives to help women who recently gave birth.
He explained that the RM450 given could reduce the burden on breastfeeding mothers while simultaneously encouraging population growth in the state.
Also present at the event was Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii, Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong, Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching Cheng GuangZhong and wife Prof Gao Cuilian, Sarawak Federation of Chinese Women Association president Lau Chiew Eng as well as Federation of Kuching-Samarahan Chinese Associations Women chief Liu Moi Kiaw.
