KOTA KINABALU: Women have been urged to go out and help the needy as well as sign up as volunteers.

This was the call made by Datin Mary Wong, the wife of Assistant Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Edward Yong when met at Zara’s Boutique Hotel near here recently.

She felt that women had the power to make positive changes, not just in their own life, but that of their family, their children and the communities surrounding them.

“For a start, I would like to urge women to start their own business. They can start their own home-based business which allows them to juggle their time between business and family. The government has programmes that are geared towards helping housewives start their own business. They should take advantage of this and learn more about it,” she said.

Wong added that such programme has benefitted the female Thalassaemia patients, whom she has close rapport with, and they have begun their own mobile make-up and hair saloon.

“They took part in a three-month programme under 1Azam and now they have started their own business. To keep costs down, they don’t have a shop, but go directly to customers who request for their services. I heard they are doing quite well,” she said, beaming with pride.

She explained that the female patients have been trained as beauticians.

Wong then mentioned that she considered it her responsibility to impart knowledge on government programmes that would benefit the people, particularly women and motivate them towards the aim that would allow them to develop and grow.

“It is not because I am a YB’s wife. I have always been active as a volunteer and joined the Girl Guides Association when I was still in school. It is something I enjoy doing,” she said.

She felt quite happy that she had the backing and support of the PBS Wanita whenever community service related events were organised.

“We conducted a mobile service for the application of new identity cards for senior citizens together with JPN (National Registration Department). The senior folks were happy with the service as they didn’t have to go to the JPN office and wait. It saved them the hassle. We were quite happy to be able to assist them. The government does provide a lot of good services,” she said.

Another venture she is happy to assist in is to look into the welfare of Thalassaemia patients at Kudat Hospital.

But why Kudat? She answered, “My brother works there and he sees the Thalassaemia children going for transfusion all the time. The hospital has become their second home. He felt sad for them and asked me to come in.”

“What we do is provide them with love and care. We also conduct a monthly donation campaign for the children. Additionally, we have brought in courses that they could take up while waiting for transfusion,” Wong said.

Aside from that, thanks to Sabah Credit Corporation, they have also recently acquired their own ‘Persatuan Thalassaemia building’ located near the Kudat Hospital.

“The building was recently handed over to us. We plan to organise many activities there – classes for baking cakes and buns, for instance, as this will provide the patients with the knowhow to start their own business,” she said.

More importantly, though, is that the building will serve as a place where the Thalassaemia patients could rest and conduct their own activities while waiting for their turn for blood transfusion, she said.

During her visit to Zara’s Boutique Hotel, Mary also presented gifts to the hotel’s all-women staff. Also present was the hotel’s managing director, Eliza Goh.

source:The Borneo Post