Abang Johari, with Fatimah on his left, joining some of the distinguished women of Sarawak in a photo-call. Also seen are Fatimah’s deputy minister Datuk Rosey Yunus (fourth right) and Deputy Minister in Sarawak Premier’s Department (Law, Malaysia Agreement 1963 and State-Federal Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali (right).
THE Sarawak Women’s Day 2023 celebration, which was held at the Penview Convention Centre in Kuching, on March 18, ended on a successful note. The beautiful sense of camaraderie among the women of diverse ethnic backgrounds from all strata of society who came for the celebration, was a motivation itself for the ladies to strive on towards their dreams and goals.
The theme of this year’s state-level Women’s Day, ‘Embrace Equity’, inspires the women further. Taken from the International Women’s Day 2023, the theme is most fitting.
It points out that everyone can embrace equity by calling out discrimination, drawing attention to prejudice and seeking inclusion so that everyone can have equal access to opportunities.
The outcome is equality.
Sarawak women have come a long way since the days of their predecessors. The celebration with all its pride and splendour gave fresh impetus to many aspiring women young and old to achieve great heights.
Believing in life
As my favourite author Susan Cahill wrote: “Perhaps, it has been women’s task throughout history ‘to go on believing in life when there was almost no hope’, in the words of Margaret Mead, women have sought and cultivated the goods of the spirit out of a practical need for meaning. The varieties of significance they have intuited amid vast fields of lived experience have illumined their understanding and shaped the strategies of the journey, making the hard going sometimes easier, sometimes blessed, more promising than opaque. And meaning, the traveller’s sustaining wisdom, is its own reward.”
Stories of women’s attainments and feats in the midst of unfavourable circumstances through the ages serve as a reminder that today’s women enjoy a better level of equality than the women of any time in history. It has been a long arduous journey of challenges and opportunities, and most of all, a journey of emancipation that takes them to the present level of purposefulness.
The history of International Women’s Day dates back to 1909 when National Women’s Day in the United States was first celebrated. The following year, the contention for a global women’s day was made at the International Women’s Conference in Denmark in 1910, and then finally Germany became the first country to mark International Women’s Day on March 8, 1914.
Celebrating battle for equality
Today, the International Women’s Day is observed globally every year, on March 8, to celebrate women’s battle for equality. It also serves as a reminder of how they have been subdued for centuries and what they have achieved when given a fair platform.
As far as Sarawak is concerned, women have made significant progress in the past few decades as they take on new responsibilities in various fields beyond the boundaries of their traditional domain albeit not without struggle.
The well-known axiom, ‘women have to work three times more than men to be up there’, still rings true despite the positive change in society. Nonetheless, women have proven their worth even as discrimination by men-dominated social institutions still works against their advantage.
However, this gender bias is slowly being overcome. There is a promising future for Sarawak women as long as they keep going.
The Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg gave his assurance in his launching speech: “We are talking about gender equality, so women and men will enjoy the same rights, resources, opportunities, and protection.”
He added that in terms of economic empowerment, women had the potential in developing Sarawak towards 2030 and they would be given equal or even greater opportunities for comprehensive and active roles in the economic and social development of society.
Premier’s generous assurance
Abang Johari received a big applause from the audience after he disclosed a pledge of RM2.5 million as capital grant for the Ministry of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development (KPWKM) to help empower women in various fields.
I talked to my friend Dr Maria Corazon Cortez, who came with me for the Women’s Day celebration. An accomplished writer who is the managing director of Faradale Media-M Sdn Bhd, she remarked: “I appreciate the fact that the Premier mentioned in his speech that the best quality of women is they are usually focused when given a task and are determined to give their best in accomplishing it.
“The Women’s Day celebration, organised by the Women and Family Department under the leadership of the Minister of KPWKM, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, was very impressive and well organised and indeed, an attestation to what the Premier just said in praise of the feminine trait. I have the privilege of being acquainted with all the awardees of the Sarawak Premier Award and I know for a fact that they possess that quality.
“Despite the challenges, obstacles and even personal trials such as health or relationship crisis they have encountered, they persevered until they were able to overcome. They are true models of courage and persistence.
“I also saw the sincerity in their intentions for the good of others. In this, they never wavered.
“They did what they could, employing their talents and abilities, and even using their own resources to make a difference in other people’s lives.
“I don’t think they did this seeking recognition or rewards. It comes from their hearts’ pure intention.”
KPWKM commended
“I applaud the Ministry of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Sarawak for giving these women the distinguished Sarawak Premier Award.
“I do believe that they truly deserve the recognition,” said Dr Cortez.
As one of the recipients of the award, I was required to attend the rehearsal for the celebration that took place two days before the event.
Minister Fatimah arrived early to make sure that everything was all set for the big day.
The dedicated minister was seen as a stage coordinator throughout the rehearsal process checking on the sound system, lighting effects video clips and all that with a script in her hand.
She focused on every performance on stage down to the smallest details, manifesting the feminine trait mentioned by the Premier in his launching speech and not to mention, her gentleness and supportiveness towards participants as she went about her job.
The annual state-level Women’s Day is a hallmark of distinction for women who have contributed, participated, and accomplished milestones of excellence in the society.
It is also a platform that showcases the beauty of cultural diversity, of camaraderie among the women of Sarawak, and of their achievements so far.
The dance and musical performances staged during the celebration were representative of the advancement of performing arts in the state. Some of the performers were scouted by Fatimah herself. Certainly, that is equity at work providing an avenue for young talents to perform.
Projects for women in the offing
In her welcoming speech, a wide range of projects for women were highlighted. The minister enlightened the audience on her ministry’s requests for grants and support from the state government. All these were part of their efforts to promote equity, equality and quality among women and families, and for social development and the empowerment of women.
A familiar name in the broadcasting line, Jennifer Lau who is also my ex-colleague during my broadcasting days, applauded the recent Women’s Day celebration.
“It was an occasion to remember and a sight to behold. It was so uplifting to see hundreds of women, and quite a sizeable number of men, from all walks of life, come to celebrate and honour women amidst glitters, pomp and splendour. Even the downpour did not dampen their spirits.
“The highlight of the event was the presentation of the Sarawak Premier Award to four women and a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in recognition of their contributions to the community in various fields.
“It’s amazing that I had the chance to interview the respective ladies in my women’s chat show during my broadcasting days! I got to meet all these wonderful women during the auspicious occasion,” said Lau, formerly the producer and host of the weekly radio programmes ‘Women’s Magazine’ and ‘Feminine Scope’.
The award recipients were Norjanah Razali (Sarawak Premier Award for Women’s Leadership), Natasha Nasa Douglas Uggah (Sarawak Premier Award for Women’s Entrepreneurship), Manjeet Kaur Sidhu (Sarawak Premier Award for Female Social Activist), myself (Sarawak Premier Special Achievement Award for Writing), and The Society for Kuching Urban Poor (SKUP) for the Premier Outstanding NGO Award.
(From left) Kapitan Bernadette Geikie representing SKUP, Natasha Nasa and Norjanah giving an applause while watching their video clips on the big screen before being called on stage to receive their awards.
The writer with her Sarawak Premier Special Achievement Award for Writing.
Women’s emancipation
The convergence of women from all levels of society and various ethnic and religious backgrounds in celebration of the state-level ‘Hari Wanita’ (Women’s Day) cannot be taken for granted. It brought across a powerful message of women’s liberation, of their aspiration, of their struggles, of their passion, of their achievements.
It is still a long way to go to achieve gender equality but the journey has begun.
The women’s forum that kicked off the recent Women’s Day celebration featuring speakers of calibre – Dato Dr Madeline Berma, Prof Dr Ida Fatimawati Adi Badiozaman, Associate Prof Dr Margaret Chan Kit Yok and Dr Nadrawina Isnin – was a fulfilment of a desire to see the liberation of a new generation of women.
The recent Women’s Day, replete with pomp, splendour and pride, was yet another eventful moment that is set to raise the hopes and expectations of women as they strive forward in pursuit of higher levels of achievements.
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