Wanita, Puteri UMNO Want Role Of Women, Youths To Be Empowered In Economic Development

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 (Bernama) -- Wanita and Puteri UMNO urged the government to strengthen its role as a driver of sustainable economic development by focusing on the empowerment of women and youths, especially through support for local brands and the halal industry as one of the pillars of the country's economic growth.

Puteri UMNO chief Datuk Nurul Amal Mohd Fauzi said the government needs to ensure the survival and growth of local brands which are important assets of the country's economy, especially in strengthening the domestic value chain and opening up income opportunities for youths.

“The government must introduce policies that truly help local traders to grow and ensure that their implementation is not just theoretical, but can be felt, especially by the youths," she said during the wing's policy speech at the UMNO 2025 General Assembly at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) today.

According to Nurul Amal, the support should include financial assistance, guidance and the building of a comprehensive entrepreneurial ecosystem to help youth entrepreneurs to develop their own brands and thus place Malaysian products on the international market.

“Statistics show 1.0 million to 1.3 million youths have to rely on flexible work or side income as a second job for their survival.

“We have the ability and power to help them improve their business, indirectly increase their trust in us. This is the era of youths going global,” she said.

In a related development, Wanita UMNO proposed the Women in Halal Industry agenda be made one of the main agendas under the National Halal Industry Development Council chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Wanita UMNO chief Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad said the move was important to ensure the halal industry not only generate profits, but also play a role in empowering women, strengthening the family economy and reinforcing Malaysia's position as the world's leading halal industry.

Noraini, who is also the Minister of Plantation and Commodities, said the halal industry is an important contributor to the country's economy and has raised Malaysia's name on the international stage, but women's involvement in the sector is still low.

“Therefore, Wanita UMNO believes that the time has come for the Women in Halal Industry agenda to be elevated as the country's strategic agenda,” she said when delivering her keynote speech at the Wanita UMNO General Assembly here.

She added that women should not only be producers, but should also emerge as key players in the growing halal industry chain.

-- BERNAMA