MALAYSIAN PM`S WIFE AMONG KEYNOTE SPEAKERS AT DUBAI LEADERSHIP FORUM

By Muin Abdul Majid

DUBAI, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's commitment and experience in promoting
the role of women in its nation-building will be highlighted by Rosmah Mansor at
the upcoming Women in Leadership Forum here.

Malaysian consul-general in Dubai Syed Mohamad Hasrin Tengku Hussin said the
wife of Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak was not alien to the efforts in
promoting the role of women in society including in leadership.

Rosmah is one of the keynote speakers at the event that its organisers say
will gather some 300 women leaders from the political and business arena from
all over the world.

"Her presence and the strong showing of the Malaysian delegation at the
conference manifests the excellent and close bilateral relations between
Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)," Syed Mohamad Hasrin said ahead of
the Oct 25-27 forum.

She will be accompanied by Women, Family and Community Development Minister
Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Deputy Human Resources Minister Maznah Mazlan as well as
wives of several ministers and state leaders, and other government officials.

Rosmah is involved in numerous establishments and organisations in Malaysia
that champion women, children, healthcare, education and other causes.

Among others, she is chancellor of Universiti Industri Selangor, president
of Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) and chairman
of Permata Negara, an initiative for early childhood care and education.

Rosmah will take the opportunity of her presence in Dubai to meet members of
the Malaysian community at an Eid al-Fitr and Deepavali gathering prior to the
conference.

Elaborating, Syed Mohamad Hasrin said women were regarded as an important
issue in Malaysia that resulted in the creation of a dedicated ministry in 2001
to continue the emphasis on women given by the Malaysian government since
independence.

With women constituting 13.9 million or 49.1 per cent of Malaysia's 27
million people, the consul-general said they were an important asset for the
country.

"Thus, investment in women makes perfect economic sense," he said.

The forum will be opened by Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of UAE
vice-president, prime minister and ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, at the Burj Al Arab hotel on Sunday.

Conference sessions and interactive workshops will take place on Monday and
Tuesday at the Atlantis hotel.

The invited speakers will touch on issues such as women in science and
technology, micro-credit financing, corporate philanthropy as well as the power
of the media.

"By gathering regional and international leaders from the political,
academic and business sectors, our objective is to inspire women to exercise
their leadership skills and supporting women entrepreneurship," explained Sophie
Le Ray, chief executive of naseba, the organiser of the forum.

She said naseba aimed to set an annual rendezvous for business women to
network, share experiences and facilitate deal opportunities among peers.
-- BERNAMA