MINISTER HAILS RAFIAH SALIM`S APPOINTMENT INTO NAM INSTITUTE

KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 (Bernama) -- Women, Family and Community Development
Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil has hailed the appointment of Rafiah Salim as the
director of NAM Institute for the Empowerment of Women (NIEW).

She said that Rafiah's appointment was timely as the Non-Aligned Movement
(NAM) would hold its 15th Summit in Sharm Al-Sheikh, Egypt on July 15-16.

Shahrizat said Rafiah's experience would go a long way in helping to realise
NIEW's vision.

"The appointment is a recognition to the capabilities of women in the
country, particularly in terms of taking the lead in women empowerment at the
international level," she said.

Rafiah is former Universiti of Malaya vice-chancellor and is the first
Malaysian woman to have served as the United Nations assistant
secretary-general.

-- BERNAMA