KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has approved an initial allocation of RM500,000 to the Social Institute of Malaysia, which is under the Women, Family, and Community Development Ministry.
The Social Institute of Malaysia was set up to promote professional and semi-professional training in the field of training and research as well as social education to all social workers from various levels and groups from within and outside the country, including non-governmental organisations.
The prime minister said the allocation was to carry out research on development and empowerment of women in the country.
“There are new areas for research for women, mothers, and their children. I think the routines, general practices, and programmes in this bureaucratic system may not be able to undertake this special task.
“It is precisely for this reason that this ministry seems to suggest that we do not necessarily need different divisions, but for research officers in the academic centre and universities or international organisations to come up with plans or research involving women.
“We can add (to the allocation) later if we find the research useful,” he said.
The prime minister was speaking at the official launch of the 2023 International Women’s Day celebration here today.
Apart from the institute, Anwar also announced an allocation of RM1 million to set up the Rahmah Kasih Fund under the ministry, which is aimed at helping women in vulnerable situations.
“The fund is to help women in vulnerable situations such as domestic violence and those neglected by their spouses before they are assisted by the Welfare Department or tithe centres,” he said.
Also present were Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, as well as Bandar Tun Razak MP Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is also the prime minister’s wife.
Nancy said the ministry had appealed for financial support for the Women’s Centre of Excellence, but the prime minister had suggested allocating funds for research under the institute specifically for research, and “see where we can go from there”. – Bernama, March 8, 2023
