Brunei's Women Council Hosts Lunch For MAKSAK Delegation
By Rosli Abidin Yahya & Achong Tanjong

Bandar Seri Begawan - Two women groups from neighbouring countries renewed their pledge for more cooperation and exchanges in the future in an effort to improve relationship and experience at the Riverview Hotel in Gadong last Sunday afternoon.

The visitors, which comprised over 20 representatives from the Sports and Welfare Bodies Council of Sarawak (MAKSAK) led by Puan Ayu Kartini Abdullah, were treated to a lunch hosted by the Sultanate's Women Council committee and representatives of associations under its umbrella.

Datin Hajah Masni Hj Mohd Ali, the President of Brunei Darussalam's Women Council welcomed the visitors and urged members of both councils to take advantage of the golden opportunity to build up rapport and network through exchanging ideas and discussing issues that involved family and women's development.

She also mentioned various pressing issues affecting women and their families, for example home violence that includes incest and rape.

"We read in the media on the worrying trend of incest affecting our homes. Several cases have been brought up to courts not only on violence and, incest but also rapes done by fathers on their own children.

"We must work together to findsolutions to prevent them from happening in the future to save the more gentler gender," she added.

She also touched on the social problems affecting homes such as dysfunctional family and drug abuses.

She emphasised the need for women to be exposed to the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to help overcome poverty and assist their husbands in raising the children.

"I suggest for cottage industries to be encouraged at home so women can do business while raising their children.

"We must also tackle the problems of gender differences that affect women as well as promoting family relationship at workplaces for the benefit of females who have young children," she said.

On behalf of the Women Council, she thanked the government for giving it a chance to play its role by sitting in various national committees at every level and aspects like health promotion, welfare, religion, and sports through physical and mental contribution for societal benefit.

The Women Council of Brunei Darussalam as president of Asean Confederation of Women Organisations has been given the opportunity to host the General Assembly next year with the theme of e-government and e-business for quality living. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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