KUCHING, 7 May 2009: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry will identify special dedicated programmes for the minority ethnic women’s groups in the country.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, said members of the Women and Family Development Councils (MPWK) in the respective states would go to the ground to identify programmes which were suitable and would meet the needs of the target groups.
“Besides the general programmes implemented by the ministry, the minority ethnic women’s groups need to be given more attention through these special programmes.
“As such, the ministry will have dedicated programmes to ensure all minority ethnic groups will get the desired attention under appropriate programmes,” she told reporters after a special meeting of the Sarawak Women and Family Development Council here today.
Earlier, Shahrizat presented letters of appointment to the MPWK chairpersons of the 31 parliamentary constituencies in Sarawak.
On special programmes to be carried out in Sarawak, Shahrizat said, she had asked the MPWK chairpersons, led by the state chairperson, Datin Fatimah Abdullah, to discuss the matter with the Women Development Department director general Datuk Dr Noorul Ainur Mohd Nur.
She said each minority ethnic groups would have their own approach and programmes.
“For example, the Penans in Sarawak, I’m sure they have special needs and programmes within the purview of the ministry, while those staying in longhouses will need a different programme,’ she added. — Bernama
Ras Lara says
Who are the minorities? By population size, political power? Wealth? Geographical inaccessibility etc?