KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 25 accomplished women from various professional backgrounds have been selected to receive grant allocations through the Women Leadership Apprenticeship Programme (PERANTIS) 2024. Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the initiative enabled these women to implement leadership development programmes in their respective fields.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, all 25 recipients will be awarded certificates and grant allocations on November 27. Nancy Shukri highlighted the programme’s aim to identify and develop women leaders, noting the strong interest and excellent response from applicants. She remarked that the selection process was conducted by external assessors, ensuring impartiality. For those who applied but were not selected, efforts will be made to reach out to them next year, as the programme only began a few months ago.
Nancy shared these insights during the “Afternoon with the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development” even
t, held in collaboration with the Malaysian Women Journalists Association (PERTAMA). The event saw the attendance of notable figures such as Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) CEO Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin, PERTAMA president Sariha Mohd Ali, Bernama Deputy Editor-in-Chief (News Services) Nasriah Darus, and Bernama English Subs Desk chief Nor Hasliza Abdullah, alongside around 100 women media practitioners.
The PERANTIS programme, introduced under the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, seeks to nurture women leaders, particularly in decision-making roles, to guide society toward progress and competitiveness. The programme focuses on developing women’s leadership skills in a range of fields, including economics, politics, social issues, law, education, health, security, and welfare.
During the event, Nancy also presented anti-sexual harassment plaques to Nur-ul Afida and 19 other women media practitioners, symbolizing the media’s role in promoting anti-sexual harassment initiatives. In li
ne with these efforts, PERTAMA president Sariha Mohd Ali stressed the importance of promptly reporting and addressing incidents of sexual harassment, which some media practitioners unfortunately face in their line of work. She urged media personnel to remember the legal consequences of such actions and highlighted their responsibility in raising awareness on this critical issue.
PERTAMA, established in 1971 by the late Sharifah Azah Syed Mohammad Alsagoff, also known as Azah Aziz, is the country’s oldest association representing women media personnel.