MINISTRY INTRODUCES TWO PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS TO RECOGNISE WOMEN'S CONTRIBUTIONS

KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 (Bernama)-- In line with Prime Minister Najib Tun
Razak's call to improve the status of women and gender equality in the
country, Women, Family and Community Development Ministry today introduced two
prestigious awards to recognize the contributions of women in Malaysia.

Its minister, Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, said the two awards, each
named Prime Minister's Female Entrepreneur Award 2011 and Prime Minister's
Female Social Activist Award 2011, were created with the aim of honouring the
women who had contributed much in the country's economic and social development.

"The awards are the first ever introduced in the 10 years of the ministry's
history and they are meant to recognise women's achievement in the country's
economic and social development," she told reporters after launching the awards
here Friday.

Shahrizat said it was also hoped that the awards would inspire more women
and increase the awareness among women entrepreneurs and social activists about
what they could achieve.

The nomination for the two awards is open from today until Aug 17, while the
award presentation ceremony will be held on Sept 25.

-- BERNAMA