Day: March 8, 2023

Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City held a ceremony on March 8 to posthumously confer the title of “Heroic Vietnamese Mother” to eight women whose husbands and children laid down their lives in the struggle for national liberation and protection.

Addressing the ceremony, Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, said the Party and the State always pay attention to caring for alive heroic mothers as well as policy beneficiary families and those who rendered service to the revolution.

The awarding of the title reflects the motherland’s recognition of the sacrifice of these women, he said.

He asked local authorities to take better care of the mothers and contribute to helping improve their lives./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Lao Women’s Union (LWU), UNFPA, and partners united on the occasion of the annual International Women’s Day to accelerate progress towards gender equality by bringing women in all their diversity into the spotlight with various activities across Vientiane.

Vice Ministers and Ambassadors, presidents of ministries’ LWU, and partners who support Gender Equality gathered at Vientiane’s That Luang for the third family healthy walk to promote women’s right to access, and have representation in all areas of public life.

President of the Lao Women’s Union Inlavanh Keobounphanh said, “In the era of globalisation, the use of modern technology and modern communication has become a factor in the lives of citizens around the world, including the Lao PDR. This has had both positive and negative impacts on a number of women who lack the skills and know-how on technology which have often been misled and become victims of technology-facilitated gender-based violence.”

“Thus the theme of this year’s IWD “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality” is to ensure that everyone has safe access to technology and to protect the rights and interests of women and girls from online violence.”

The Lao PDR consistently supports progressive international conversations and consensus around women’s rights, many of which are reflected in national laws and policies.

UNFPA Representative Mariam A. Khan congratulated LWU for organising this event and for bringing women, men, young and old together. “Let us mark this day by understanding that technology and innovation can be game changers for women and girls’ rights if design and use respond to their specific needs and use, be it on the streets in the real world or in online spaces in the virtual world.”

Vice Minister of Technology and Communications Santisouk Simmalavong said, “This is the most important time to highlight gender inequality in our economy and society through lens of digital technology. In particular, it shows the importance of protecting women and girls who are being taken advantage of and exploited by the use of technologies and the internet. Our Department of Cyber Security has law on Cybercrimes and other relevant laws in place to receive reports from individuals and refer cases to the cybercrime police.”

In the run up to the IWD, on 4th March, the Ministry of Health and UNFPA organised the “Walk for Health” at Patuxay Monument to raise awareness of women’s specific health requirements which are essential for gender equality. The process was led by the Minister of Health Bounfeng Phoummalaysith, and his two deputies Phayvanh Keopaseuth, and Sanong Thongsana and gathered more than 400 people at this iconic landmark.

Minister of Health Bounfeng Phoummalaysith, during the event said, “The celebration theme fits in well with us. We have just launched the Digital Health Strategy that focuses on using technology and innovation to improve the health of our people. The technology will be used by our health staff to improve patient management and care, to allow data to be collected and use. It will help us to reduce Maternal Mortality Ratio and achieve our goals. We still need to focus on safe referral and encourage women and girls to access services to ensure safe delivery”.

The IWD celebration will be followed by free eye checks for women at the Women’s Training Center on March 9, and an advocacy and Cultural event will be held at the International Cooperation and Training Center (ICTC) on March 10. IWD 2023 will wrap up with a “Blood Drive” at the UN house on March 22, for ensuring that women can access life saving blood during C sections and post delivery hemorrhage.

Source: Lao News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 (Bernama) — University student movement, Gerakan Mahasiswa today submitted a memorandum to members of Parliament (MPs) from the government’s bloc to demand the repeal of the Universities and University Colleges Act (AUKU) 1971 to empower the role of students.

The memorandum was handed over by Universiti Malaya Students’ Union deputy secretary-general V. Dhurgesswaran to Raub MP Chow Yu Hui at the Parliament Building today.

“It is time for us to introduce a new act to replace AUKU as the basis and framework for student activism that is more progressive, fair, balanced and sustainable in line with the transformation in our country,” he said.

In a recent Parliament session, Minister of Higher Education (KPT) Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin said it did not intend to abolish AUKU but was open to any amendment to the act.

Also present at the handing over of the memorandum were the MPs for Bandar Kuching Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen, Tan Kar Hing (Gopeng), Young Syefura Othman (Bentong), Chiew Choon Man (Miri) and Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari (Sungai Petani).

At the same time, Yii said his team has been in contact with the KPT authorities and will bring the students’ demands today to find a common ground to empower this group.

The memorandum involved student representatives from 12 local institutions of higher learning (IPT) including the International Islamic University Malaysia Student Union (IIUM Student Union), Suara Siswa Universiti Malaya, Suara Siswa Universiti Utara Malaysia, Demokrat UniSZA and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman Student Representative Council (UTAR SRC).

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

JASIN, March 8 (Bernama) — The state government via the Social Welfare Department (JKM) will be investigating immediately allegations of unsatisfactory food served to flood victims at the temporary relief centre (PPS) in Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Sungai Rambai.

State Women’s Affairs, Family Development and Welfare Committee chairman Datuk Kalsom Noordin said the state government was peeved as it should not have happened in the supply of food to flood victims in PPS.

“We will never compromise on matters like this and will take appropriate action against the supplier if it is found that the matter really happened, including blacklisting any caterer that did not prioritise food quality.

“From our monitoring at SK Sungai Rambai PPS today, the food supplied is good and PPS evacuees also echoed the same view,” she told reporters here today.

The media today reported that the flood victims at SK Batu Gajah PPS claimed that the lunch provided was of poor quality.

Commenting further, Kalsom said JKM allocated more than RM20 a day for four meals to be provided to each victim at the PPS and hoped that the appointed caterer would prepare decent meals according the rate paid while ensuring the quality of the food.

She said so far her committee has not received any complaints from other PPS regarding the issue of stale or poor quality food supplied to the victims.

“In future, we will continue to improve the quality of service regarding food to the evacuees here, whether they cook it themselves or appoint the school canteen at PPS,” she said.

Meanwhile, a flood victim at SK Batu Gajah PPS, Laila Md Salleh, 62, from Kampung Parit Penghulu said she also faced the food problem but did not speak about it because she did not want to make an issue of the matter.

“I was transferred to this PPS since Sunday, like yesterday the tomato fish given to me did not smell fresh but I ate a little rice just to fill my stomach while waiting for dinner.

“I just kept quiet because I was afraid that I would be branded as ungrateful, but for the common good I hope this problem will be solved soon,” she said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 (Bernama) — The Malaysian Takaful Association (MTA) has taken the initiative to mobilise the takaful industry to help flood victims, especially in Johor, through the ‘Takaful-4-All’ (T4A) campaign.

Its chief executive officer Mohd Radzuan Mohamed said his team will mobilise the campaign immediately as a collection centre for necessities giving priority to the low-income group in line with the government’s initiative to help the B40 group.

“We are deeply affected by the calamity that has afflicted flood victims throughout the country, especially the people of Johor. The MTA is committed to extending assistance and speeding up claims for flood victims,” he said in a statement.

He added that the takaful industry initiative is focused on four priorities, among which is simplifying and expediting claims and hotline information sharing for all takaful companies.

“In addition, the T4A campaign allows customers who want to make a donation to contact the MTA or send neccesities to the collection centre.

“T4A will distribute aid to flood relief centres immediately, following the efforts of takaful operating companies. The MTA is also ready to bring T4A teams to help clean up and help affected victims,” he said.

At the same time, Mohd Radzuan called on all takaful operators to support the T4A campaign and contribute to the initiative.

“We would also like to congratulate various public agencies on the issue of flood disaster management, especially in Johor at the moment. The MTA takes the opportunity to remind the public to pay attention to all announcements by the authorities on the latest flood information.

He said for more and latest information as well as assistance information, visit MTA’s official Facebook and Instagram pages at ‘Malaysian Takaful Association’.

Here are the hotline information provided by the MTA:

Free towing service for flood victims to the nearest workshop

Etiqa General Takaful Berhad – 1-800-88-6491

ii. Takaful Ikhlas General Berhad – 1-800-88-1186

iii. Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Am Berhad – 1-800-888-788

iv. Zurich General Takaful Malaysia Berhad – 1-300-88-6222

On-site approval for applications without documents or forms for claims up to RM20,000.

i. Etiqa General Takaful Berhad – 011-1630-6646 (KL/Selangor/Perak/Penang/Kedah/Perlis)

ii. Etiqa General Takaful Berhad – 018-226-3288 (Kelantan/Terenganu/Pahang/Johor/Melaka/Negeri Sembilan/Sabah & Sarawak)

Vehicle Damage Assistance

Etiqa General Takaful Berhad – 1-800-88-6491

Takaful Ikhlas General Berhad – 1-800-88-1186

Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Am Berhad – 1-800-888-788

Zurich Takaful Malaysia Berhad – 1-300-88-6222

Assistance to Homes Affected by Floods

Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Am Berhad – 1-300-88-252-385 / 016-218-4848 (WhatsApp)

Flood Claims

Etiqa General Takaful Berhad – 011-1630-6646 (KL/Selangor/Perak/Penang/Kedah/Perlis)

Etiqa General Takaful Berhad – 018-226-3288 (Kelantan/Terenganu/Pahang/Johor/Melaka/Negeri Sembilan/Sabah & Sarawak)

Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Am Berhad – 016-218-4848

Takaful Ikhlas General Berhad – 03-2723-9696

Medical Assistance – Letter of Guarantee For 24-hour Hospital Care

Etiqa Family Takaful Berhad 1-800-88-9998

Source: BERNAMA News Agency