‘We always uphold dignity of women’
Barisan will also ensure the Senate comprises 30% women, says Najib
KUALA LUMPUR: The Barisan Nasional will always uphold the dignity and honour of women, says Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
He said one way would be to make it mandatory for 30% of the Senate to comprise women representatives.
Making a surprise appearance at the Wanita Barisan manifesto launch here last night, the Prime Minister said Barisan would ensure these pledges are realised.
“I want to express my appreciation to women.
“We want to see how they can play a bigger role as wife, mother and career woman.
“We will ensure more women are elevated to decision-making positions in this country, and also amend the Federal Constitution to ensure that there are 30% women senators.
“We will also create more women entrepreneurs,” he said in a brief address at the “Ratu Hati Negaraku” (My Country’s Queen) programme held at PWTC.
Also present at the event were Najib’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Wanita Barisan and Umno chief Tan Sri Shahrizat Jalil, Wanita MCA chief Datuk Heng Seai Kie and other top Wanita Barisan leaders.
Describing women as pillars of the nation, Najib said the Barisan manifesto launched on April 7 well documented this.
Shahrizat, who launched the Barisan Wanita manifesto earlier, said it would focus on 25 specific initiatives.
She also added that these were part of the 364 initiatives Najib had launched. “The Barisan manifesto shows that a nation is not built from big buildings or skyscrapers ... it is built from a home that is filled with a happy family.
“The beauty of this manifesto is that women are not just made happy with one specific chapter but if you look closely, more than 80% of the 364 initiatives are for women to be successful,” she said.
Shahrizat said women were the key to success in any government or nation, adding that they are the ones who determined a country’s direction.
The Wanita manifesto included a pledge to provide more than 235,000 single mothers a chance to uplift themselves through vocational training and ensuring young women get job opportunities through SL1M 2.0 (1Malaysia Training Scheme).
SL1M 2.0 will also benefit some 680,000 women graduates, Shahrizat said.
More opportunities will also be created for women entrepreneurs to help boost their income.
“Barisan will also implement the Universal Child Care policy for all children aged below five.
“When women go out to work, their children will be well taken care of.
“More than 2.6 million children will be taken care of through this initiative,” she added.
Shahrizat also said that as Wanita Barisan chief, she would ensure that every pledge made is implemented.