Malaysian women walk in solidarity in Purple Walk
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian women walked in solidarity in the Purple Walk in conjunction with the International Women's Day themed "Equality for women is progress for all", a leisure activity that encourages a healthy lifestyle among Malaysian women and their families.
In TELUK INTAN, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin received the participants of the Purple Walk at the Teluk Intan Leaning Tower Square before they began their walk.
He said the empowerment of women, gender equity and inclusion in decision making played a central role both as a litmus test and an active variable in shaping a democratic, stabilised and developed society.
In MELAKA, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron flagged off about 1,000 participants for a one km walk along the bank of Sungai Melaka from Taman Rempah to Kampung Morten.
In his speech, he said 400 Perwani 1Malaysia Community Groups (Perwani) comprising 5,454 members had been set up in Melaka until May 19, surpassing the target of 250 Perwani outfits established last year.
He said in Melaka, female undergraduates in public and private institutions of higher learning accounted for 50% or 32,565 of 59,547 students.
Idris said 59 women held key posts in decision-making and policy promulgation process involving more than 200 federal and state government agencies in Melaka.
In KOTA BARU, Kelantan Federal Development Department director Datuk Makhtar Mustapha flagged off about 1,000 participants for the 1.2km Purple Walk and aerobic exercise at the Tengku Anis Municipal Park here.
In his speech, Makhtar said the theme called for women to be given the honour and rightful place in the society.
"They ought to be protected while given the opportunity in the economic, social and political fields based on their ability," he said.
Meanwhile, Kelantan Women Development Department director Azlina Mohd Embran said the department recently launched Perwani Siswi, a women group made up of female students at institutions of higher learning.
"So far, Perwani has been set up at Universiti Sains Malaysia. The department allocates RM500 for each programme conducted by Perwani and its implementation will be monitored," she said. – Bernama