SPECIAL PROGRAMMES FOR M'SIA'S MINORITY ETHNIC WOMEN

KUCHING (Malaysia), May 8 (Bernama) - The Women, Family and Community
Development Ministry will identify special dedicated programmes for the minority
ethnic women's groups in the country.

Its minister, Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, said members of the Women
and Family Development Councils (MPWK) in the respective states would go to the
ground to identify programmes which were suitable and would meet the needs of
the target groups.

"Besides the general programmes implemented by the ministry, the minority
ethnic women's groups need to be given more attention through these special
programmes.

"As such, the ministry will have dedicated programmes to ensure all minority
ethnic groups will get the desired attention under appropriate programmes," she
told reporters after a special meeting of the Sarawak Women and Family
Development Council, in Kuching, the capital city of East Malaysia state of
Sarawak Thursday.

Earlier, Shahrizat presented letters of appointment to the MPWK chairmen of
the 31 parliamentary constituencies in Sarawak.

On special programmes to be carried out in Sarawak, Shahrizat said, she had
asked the MPWK chairmen, led by the state chairmen, Fatimah Abdullah, to
discuss the matter with the Women Development Department director general
Dr Noorul Ainur Mohd Nur.

She said each minority ethnic groups would have their own approach and
programmes.

"For example, the Penans in Sarawak, I'm sure they have special needs and
programmes within the purview of the ministry, while those staying in longhouses
will need a different programme,' she added.

-- BERNAMA