Govt spent RM78.5mil on women-oriented programmes

THE Government spent RM78.5mil to help a total of 1,771 NGOs in programmes to benefit women, it was revealed.

Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun ( pic) said the money was used to implement

4,318 development programmes to benefit 850,660 women nationwide from 2001 to 2016.

She said from 2014 to 2017, the ministry, together with eight NGOs, also initiated 28 programmes to tackle issues related to violence against women.

These programmes involved 3,880 women participants and a total expenditure of RM261,130.

“The programmes were conducted nationwide with the help of women NGOs so that women could be exposed to the related issues and know that they can tackle violence against them,” said Azizah in reply to a question from Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad (BN-Parit Sulong) yesterday.

Dr Noraini had asked the ministry to state the initiatives taken by the ministry to combat violence and extremism against women.

Azizah said the ministry took issues of violence and extremism against women seriously.

Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim, replying to another query, said there was still no specific law to address stalking and sexual harassment.

“The ministry is looking into having appropriate laws against stalking and sexual harassment.

“We will hold several consultation sessions with the stakeholders to fine-tune the issues,” Rohani said in a written reply to P. Kasthuri (DAP-Batu Kawan).

The MP wanted to know when stalking would be criminalised and when the Government planned to introduce laws against sexual harassment.