Govt task force to address issues on women, children and seniors

PUTRAJAYA: The government has agreed to establish a task force on social entrepreneurship initiatives, women leadership development and Project Harapan initiatives.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the task force’s first job would be to sort out mechanisms for housewives to have their own Employees Provident Fund and contribution scheme.

She said this was among the promises Pakatan Harapan made in its manifesto for the first 100 days in power.

She said the task force would also look into the stunted growth of poor urban children and children in Kelantan, as published in a United Nations Children’s Fund report last year.

Besides women and children, she said, the welfare of senior citizens would also be addressed.

Dr Wan Azizah, who is also women and family development minister, said these were among topics she raised with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Before reporting for duty at her office, she met Dr Mahathir at the Perdana Leadership Foundation here.

“It was a very fruitful meeting. I asked for his ad- vice on the Women and Family Development Ministry, especially in terms of improving our effectiveness and reducing wastage.”

She said they also spoke about the issue of welfare as the ministry’s name did not include the term, but the previous government did.

She said Dr Mahathir said there would be no changes to the duties and responsibilities of the ministry despite the name change.

She said the issue of whether to include “welfare” in the ministry’s name would be discussed in the first cabinet meeting at 9am today at the Prime Minister’s Office.

I asked for his advice on the Women and Family Development Ministry, especially in terms of improving our effectiveness and reducing wastage. DATUK SERI DR WAN AZIZAH WAN ISMAIL

Deputy prime minister