Zuraida to organise event on Malay women agenda, Dr M to attend

 

Former minister Zuraida Kamaruddin, in collaboration with 19 NGOs, will hold a conference called One Thousand Malay Women’s Conference on Oct 28.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad, she said, is expected to attend the conference as a guest of honour.

“The event will take place at the Shah Alam IDCC Convention Centre from 8am to 5pm. So far, we have received 1,500 registrations,” Zuraida (above) said at a press conference today.

Others who are scheduled to attend include academic Solehah Yaacob, Masjid Tanah MP Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, former senator Nuridah Salleh and former assemblyperson Haniza Talha.

Elaborating, Zuraida said the event was mooted as they found a lack of interest among leaders in women empowerment agenda across the nation, especially for Malay women.

"So, this bipartisan event is aimed at bringing interested parties together to seek a consensus in addressing current economic, education and political challenges affecting Malay women.”

She pointed out that while the coming conference would focus on Malay women, they hope to expand it later to encompass all women nationwide.

Asked whether Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail would attend the conference, Zuraida said the latter is welcome to participate.

“Anyone can participate regardless of party affiliations. I'm not sure if Wan Azizah has heard of it but we warmly welcome her because she's the 'First Lady’, and most certainly welcome to come,” said the former PKR vice-president.

In May last year, Zuraida left Bersatu to join Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM). In December last year, she and 10 other PBM members were sacked amid a leadership struggle with incumbent president Larry Sng.

Earlier this year, Zuraida was appointed as deputy president of the NGO, Muafakat Nasional.

Zuraida served as housing and local government minister from 2018 to 2021, and then plantation industries and commodities minister from 2021 to 2022. - Mkini