Brunei women visit Santubong Homestay

KUCHING: Members of the Brunei Government Senior Officers Wives Welfare Association ( Bistari) were at Santubong Homestay— about half- an-hour’s drive from here—yesterday morning for a goodwill visit and to strengthen relationships between Malaysian and Bruneian women associations.

Led by Bistari president Datin Asmah Abdul Rahman, the delegation of 23 women mostly comprised small and medium-size enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs.

According to Asmah, one of the visit’s main objectives was to get to know more women organisations in Sarawak that organises similar activities across a wide spectrum of fields including religious, charitable, cultural, social, educational, sports and socio- economic activities.

“Bistari hopes to acknowledge more women associations in Sarawak and cherish long-term relationships among us. We are looking at organising more activities together in the near future,” said Asmah when met at the event yesterday, adding that it was their first visit to Santubong Homestay.

The visit was hosted by the Association of Wives of Ministers and Assistant Ministers of Sarawak ( Sabati), Government Service Welfare and Recreational Council ( Maksak) and Sarawak Women Visionary Entrepreneurs Association (Saranita).

Kampung Santubong Homestay ( KSH) coordinator Jamilah Shukri, who is also the president of Saranita said that the visit from Bistari was something she had always looked forward to.

As a homestay coordinator,

Bistari hopes to acknowledge more women associations in Sarawak and cherish long-term relationships among us. We are looking at organising more activities together in the near future.

Jamilah hoped that the visit will also serve as a platform for those involved to exchange knowledge on homestays. She pointed out that currently in Brunei, many entrepreneurs have been actively involved in building homestays and related activities.

“Thus, this visit will help us to strengthen our relationship and learn from each other on things to be done to better improve the homestays in both countries,” Jamilah said.

Meanwhile, Asmah said that the group had also visited a

Datin Asmah Abdul Rahman, Bistari president

number of other places in Kuching including the Kuching North City Hall ( DBKU) Orchid Garden and the Sarawak Orphans Welfare Association (Peryatim). The group also visited Wisma Bapa Malaysia for a briefing on Sarawak women’s development.

The group’s four- day visit to Kuching will end today after a lunch with the Chief Minister’s wife Datin Amar Datuk Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang at her residence.

Several booths selling handmade items were set up at Dewan Sri Santubong during the event by various entrepreneurs and vendors such as Anggun Collection, Absolue Naturelle, Heliconia Sarawak Beads, Yummy Skindy, Cinta Rosa Perfume, R&J’s Skin Care & Sabun Kecantikan, and Eda Cakes & Chocolates.

Jamilah (left) receiving a token of appreciation from Asmah as other Bistari members look on.

Asmah (second left) launching a new line of perfumes by Cinta Rosa Perfume at the event. Also seen are Jamilah (second right) and Cinta Rosa owner Rosalyn Tahar (left).

Asmah (seated third left), Jamilah (seated right) with Bistari members and other guests in a group photo during the visit.

A visitor tries her hand at painting ‘Batik Sarawak’ during the visit.

The visitors taking a closer look at items on display at various booths set up in Dewan Sri Santubong.