Senator: Women are not just household managers, but entrepreneurs
Published on: Sunday, March 24, 2024
“Giving capital and initial funds to help them expand and enlarge their business and sales also needs to be considered and implemented, for example, in financial loans from banks or other financial institutions and grants.” Annabell added that government encouragement to help women entrepreneurs is essential.
Kuala Lumpur: Senator Annabell Perian urged all parties to look more seriously at the role of women, especially women entrepreneurs, in efforts to sustain economic growth.
“Women are not just family and household managers because many are now entrepreneurs, making every effort to improve the economic status of their families, themselves, and the larger community.
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“All parties must be aware of and look at the role of this group, which works hard in managing the household and the family economy, which can be said to be combining efforts for two tasks.
“This is not easy and should get support from all parties, including family members, spouses, friends, the community, and the government,” he said, when debating on the royal address at the Dewan Negara, here, Thursday.
According to Annabell, efforts to empower women’s abilities in entrepreneurship need to be increased, and the authorities’ initiative to help make this effort a success is vital.
“There needs to be a platform and space for them (women entrepreneurs) to increase their knowledge and skills, such as through courses, seminars, or related training programmes.
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“Giving capital and initial funds to help them expand and enlarge their business and sales also needs to be considered and implemented, for example, in financial loans from banks or other financial institutions and grants.”
She added that government encouragement to help women entrepreneurs is essential.
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It helps boost their spirit and increase healthy competitiveness in the community of women entrepreneurs.
“Among them is providing a site for doing business and other tools necessary to help women in business.
“Women’s development programmes also need to be implemented for single mothers and low-income married women in the B40 category,” she said.
She added that other aspects that need special attention are health and well-being.
“The challenge of handling all women’s tasks nowadays differs from what used to be.
“Now everything is changing in terms of management at home, office, or company.
“Women need to be given space to live a healthy and prosperous life, both physically and mentally.
“Self-health management education covers both needs to be created and specialised for this group because the challenges of living in this sophisticated and developing era are hefty, busyness and various things being handled, capable of inviting emotional stress and feelings that will later lead to health problems heavier mentality,” she said.
Annabell also said that women’s involvement in organising community and social activities could help ease the problem of emotional stress.
“They can socialise in the community by doing various healthy and leisure activities, which gives them time to relax and release those happy hormones,” she said.
Annabell also touched on women’s involvement in leadership in organisations.
According to her, the role of women in development efforts needs to be recognised and viewed at the same level as men’s capabilities without prejudice.
“Women should also be recognised for their capabilities and abilities in leading the administrative landscape.
“We must give trust to women as a group that can provide solid and precise ideas in making decisions in government administration,” she said.
Annabell also shared about the Sabah Government’s efforts in introducing a State development plan, the Halatuju Sabah Maju Jaya, launched on March 29, 2021.
“Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) is the catalyst and commitment of the State Government to advance Sabah and advance the aspirations of the people.
After almost three years of implementation, the direction of SMJ has put the State on the right track to continue progressing and developing.
“Several economic indicators show the authority of the leadership of the State Government led by GRS and this at the same time shows a very positive momentum towards the implementation of the SMJ,” she said.
She said Sabah had recorded the highest State Government revenue in history in 2023, amounting to RM6.973 billion.
“The momentum has started since the government led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor recorded a large amount of state revenue of RM5.449 billion in 2021 and RM6.960 billion in 2022.
“Increased revenue means more funds can be channelled to the people, and over the past three years, the Sabah Government has introduced various new initiatives to help all levels of the people while continuing and improving existing initiatives.
“In addition to obtaining high state revenue, Sabah also managed to record an increase in cumulative investment amounting to more than RM33 billion.
“Sabah also recorded one of the highest trade records in history amounting to RM118.1 billion in 2022, in addition to positive economic growth after suffering a fall due to the global economic crisis and Covid-19 in early 2020,” she said.
Annabell also expressed Sabah’s wishes and voice by expressing the State’s great hope to get out of the shackles of hardship and development problems, especially in the interior.
“What I mentioned earlier is still insufficient to bring the people out of the main issue.
“We need a more serious commitment from the federal government, and I see a very good opportunity for us to quickly solve the problems of the people in Sabah, not to mention the authoritative leadership shown by the Prime Minister.
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