The wife of the prime minister, Rosmah Mansor, today opened the Sabah Wisma Wanita and asked the Finance Ministry to consider allocating funds for a similar building in every state.

NONE She said such buildings could be the launch pad for development and welfare programmes for women in the states.

"The Wisma Wanita can be a catalyst to step up women's development and progress because women play an important role in society and nation-building as the wife, mother and child and, as such, they must be accorded appreciation," she said when opening the building.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who is also the Finance Minister,

was present at the event.

najib visit to kuala kubu 030410 10 Rosmah said the Wisma Wanita could function as a one-stop centre for women in need of aid in various fields, such as training in entrepreneurship and matters associated with marriage, divorce, alimony and custody rights.

On the Sabah Wisma Wanita, she said it was hoped that the five-storey building, standing on two hectares, could also be made a tourist destination as it housed quality handicraft, produced by Sabah women, that tourists could buy as souvenirs.

"This will spur the local women to produce more products of quality which can be marketed at reasonable prices," she said.

She also said that the Women's Gallery section exhibiting the development and achievements of Sabah women was an added attraction.

The Sabah Wisma Wanita was built at a cost of RM18.7 million provided by the state government.

- Bernama