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| Shahrizat Abdul Jalil wants to get Malaysia women online for their businesses. |
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is continuing to push women and business. The
latest efforts comes in the form of educating women business owners on
the usefulness of the online and social media world as a means of
garnering more traffic for their companies.
The Malaysian Women and Family Development Council on Monday said
that they were establishing a national Sohonista Secretariat that would
be tasked with educating and offering assistance for women to boost
their online presence for their business.
The Council’s chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil was reported in local media
as saying Sohonista is a reference to “small office, home office” where
women for women can assist each other.
Ahead of a general election, she said the ruling Barisan Nasional
Party’s women’s initiatives are aiming to strengthen the economy for
women.
Still, some critics said that the move is political and previous
efforts have done little to improve the status of female business owners
in Malaysia.
“I hope this is more than just talk and that it will result in
positive change and assistance for women, because it is sorely needed in
this country,” a marketing manager at a leading international firm in
Kuala Lumpur Naveen Ahmad told Bikyanews.com.
She added that “with an election coming up, I want to see real concrete movement before I believe it.”
Abdul Jalil was adamant that the effort was series, saying that “the
idea of establishing the secretariat arose as a lot of women,
particularly those recently married or with small families, are forced
to abandon their careers due to the problem of not having a maid.
“I see them as having ideas, resources and expertise to start an
online business from home, but face hurdles in getting the necessary
assistance,” she continued.
“Sohonista does not just focus on women, as we are also keen on the
participation of men, who might want to join this program,” she told
reporters after officiating the first Sohonista bazaar on Sunday.
Abdul Jalil continued to say that “the secretariat will also assist
those involved in the online business to secure assistance such as
advice, as well as facilities and finance.”
No time table was given on the process and how women could apply for assistance.
“For example, the Prime Minister just launched the RM50 million Young
Entrepreneurs Fund, for youths keen on starting or expanding their
existing businesses.
“But many may not still know how or where they have to go to apply
for the fund. So, we will act as a go-between for them,” she added. (bikyanews)
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