Najib: Govt will continue to give opportunities to women

MARKING WOMEN’S DAY: Najib (second left) launching the National Women’s Day 2013 celebration at the Putra World Trade Centre. Also present were Rosmah (third left) and Rohani (left). — Bernama photo

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will continue giving opportunities to women to improve their position in national development and transformation.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said this was because women were capable of carrying out their work and shouldering their responsibilities well, whether at the workplace or home.

“The government has no problem to continue giving opportunities for women to advance. When we have important posts in the government administration (to be filled), women have proven their capability,” he said in his speech when launching the National Women’s Day 2013 celebration at the Putra World Trade Centre, here, yesterday.

Also present were his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim, her deputy Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun and the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa.

Najib said in line with the Women’s Day celebration theme this year, “Respect Women: Society Prospers”, women must be respected and treated well wherever they were, whether at home, the workplace and even in the lift.

“Women have their wishes, but they are shy to voice out, so we have to consider their nature. But I think what women want most is respect, so we have to give them opportunities.”

He said besides respect for women, there should also be mutual understanding, whereby men needed to understand women’s needs and vice versa to ensure the family and society’s well-being.

Najib said the government also hoped that all parties could provide women with the facilities they needed as it could not be denied that women had multiple tasks.

“Therefore, if we understand and respect women’s needs, we should create a suitable work environment by, among others, providing a childcare centre at the workplace, implementing flexi hours or allowing women to work from home,” he said.

Najib said with several significant measures introduced and implemented by the government, he wanted women to trust that their position in this country  always received the government’s attention.

Rohani, in her speech, said the theme chosen this time was aimed at increasing awareness at all levels of society including men, on sharing of rights and responsibilities in creating a progressive and gender-sensitive society that is free from any form of discrimination and violence.

“This theme was also chosen to remind all that the message of respect is not specifically directed at men in the context of violence, but should also be seen  in a wider context whereby women must not only respect themselves but other women as well.

“Women must have strong solidarity and unity to help empower them in society,” she said.

At the event, Najib also presented the Respect Women Recognition award to a number of individuals in various categories for their efforts, dedication and commitment to combating violence against women.

Among them were the head of Kuala Lumpur Hospital’s Emergency and Trauma Department Datuk Seri Dr Abu Hassan Asaari Abdullah, crime analyst Kamal Affandi Hashim and deputy president of the National Council of Women’s Organisations (NCWO) Datuk Faridah Khalid. — Bernama

(Source: The Borneo Post)