| Rosmah Leaves Her Mark At Dubai Leadership Forum |
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By Muin Abdul Majid
DUBAI, Nov 7 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's voice was heard loud and clear at the recently-concluded Women in Leadership Forum when the Southeast Asian nation was represented by Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Her thought-provoking keynote address at the event, which brought together some 300 influential women from the political, business and academic spheres from across the globe, capped a brief but successful visit to this Middle Eastern city.
Rosmah had come prepared for her task as the first speaker at the forum, based on her speech designed to spur women to greater heights.
"Let us work hand-in-hand in pushing the cause of women forward. After all, women only have each other but that's all we need if we can stand together, united as one," she told her attentive audience gathered at the conference hall in the Atlantis Hotel, off the coast of Dubai.
By the time Rosmah uttered that final sentence, she had provided invaluable insights into what women should consider doing to rise to the leadership challenge in whatever fields they may be in.
More importantly, she had woven into her narrative Malaysia's experience in addressing women's issues as well as the role that could be played by first ladies in advancing the women's agenda.
In Malaysia, she said, women had been appointed to head ministries, the Central Bank, the Securities Commission, universities as well banks and multinational corporations.
Being aware of the considerable influence that could be wielded by the first ladies of the world, she proposed the convening of the Summit of First Ladies on Nurturing Women Leaders to be held in Malaysia next year.
As the clouds of uncertainty continue to swirl over large swathes of the global political and economic landscape, she said: "I do ponder at times what the world would be like if we were to have more women as leaders.
"Women are by nature more intuitive and quite averse to violence.
They are better at building relationships."
Women, she argued, were better at conquering hearts rather than conquering nations.
"Perhaps in this day and age, it's precisely this kind of leadership that's sorely needed," Rosmah observed, painting a world very different from today's world where, with more women at the helm, more money would likely be spent on children's welfare and education rather than buying weapons.
Describing the speech as a wake-up call for women, a Middle Eastern participant later commented: "It has loads of pointers for women to attain greater progress."
The hard-hitting keynote address may be the highlight of Rosmah's trip to Dubai, but a visit to the Al Noor Training Centre For Children With Special Needs revealed another facet of the lady -- one which shows that her love for children knows no boundary.
Surrounded by intellectually-challenged children and young adults, Rosmah melted at the sight of Safiya Fairooz, a four-year-old girl with Down's Syndrome.
She and her delegation donated around RM20,000 to the centre, expressing hope that caregivers in Malaysia would take a leaf from the Dubai facility in matters pertaining to the development of children with special needs.
Rosmah also had an audience with Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is United Arab Emirates' (UAE) Vice-President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai.
Discussions between the two women revolved around how Malaysia and UAE, especially Dubai, could learn from each other's experience in the care and development of children with special needs.
Rosmah also invited Princess Haya to attend the proposed summit of first ladies, as well as to visit Malaysia.
Her itinerary in Dubai also saw her meeting members of the Malaysian community in the UAE for a joint Aidilfitri and Deepavali celebration.
"It was nice of her to spend time with us. Her message of unity and the need to bring down barriers among us, Malaysians, was lovely," said a Malaysian architect who attended the event.
-- BERNAMA
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