BN-led govt never marginalised women – Rosmah

SHAH ALAM: The Barisan Nasional (BN)-led government has never marginalised women's group in the nation's development plan but had always provided the opportunity for them to move in tandem with the country's growth, according to Prime Minister's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

She also said women of Indian ethnicity were not spared from receiving perks and benefits from various government initiatives, particularly through the Socioeconomic Development of Indian Community Unit (SEDIC) and microcredit facility Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia.

“Under the SEDIC, a sum of RM203 million has been allocated for the use of 500,000 people of the Indian community where 16 percent of the allocation is for programmes related to women and single mothers.

“Various courses such as sewing, cooking, agriculture and make-up have been implemented tailored for the women and single mothers, where most of them have generated their own income.

“In addition, Amanah Iktiar Malaysia has assisted more than 10,000 Indian women through various business loan financing amounting to RM140 million,” she said in her speech when opening the National Women's Day of Pertubuhan Gerak Sakti 1Malaysia which was attended by approximately 3,000 Indian women here yesterday.

Present at the event were Pertubuhan Gerak Sakti 1Malaysia chairman Datuk R.S. Thanenthiran and his wife, Datin Seri Vaney Thanenthiran, who is also the women's wing chairman of the organisation. – Bernama

Silat exponents at the 2018 Mammoth Gathering of National Silat Instructors organised by the National Federation of Silat Exponents in Gombak, Selangor, waiting for the arrival of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. - Bernama photo

Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor (second left) receiving a souvenir from Pertubuhan Gerak Sakti 1Malaysia women’s wing chairman Datin Seri Vaney Thanenthiran at the opening of the National Women’s Day of Pertubuhan Gerak Sakti 1Malaysia. - Bernama photo