FOLLOWING the successful establishment of the Women and Family Development Committees (JPWKs) in Penang, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has welcomed other states to emulate Penang.
Chow said the state had witnessed the effectiveness of the JPWKs since they were set up some 10 months ago.
“The programmes that were organised by the JPWKs had managed to increase community awareness on parenting, finance, health and others for the betterment of women and families.
“Besides that, the JPWKs have also managed to promote leadership skills among women,” he said in his speech before presenting the letter of authority (watikah) to 40 JPWKs (one JPWK for each state constituency in Penang), at the Seameo Recsam, Jelutong, today.
The appointment was for the year 2020 and 2021.
Chow said the initiatives taken by JPWKs in Penang supported the Penang2030 vision of ‘A Family-Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation’.
He also spoke about the mechanism and structure of the JPWK.
“Each JPWK will consist of a chairman, a secretary, a treasurer, and 12 committee members.
“The chairman and the secretary will receive a monthly allowance of RM700 and RM600 respectively per month; while the treasurer and committee members will be receiving a meeting allowance monthly.
“Each JPWK will be allocated RM10,000 annually to organise women and family development programmes at its state constituency,” Chow said.
Penang Women and Family Development, Gender Inclusiveness and Religions Other Than Islam Committee chairman Chong Eng said she was impressed with the commitment and success of the JPWKs.
“The 40 JPWKs have managed to organise 423 programmes in just 10 months; receiving over 91,000 participants!
“Thirty-six percent of the programmes were about unity in community, 20% were on the economy and entrepreneurship, 20% were on family, and the remaining were programmes on health, safety and education,” Chong Eng said.
She urged the more women to step up and lead.
“You will need to work hard. You will need to sacrifice; and you will need to balance your time for your family and your career,” she said.
Chong Eng also advised the women to learn the art of negotiation to be successful.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis
Video by Darwina Mohd Daud
