BY NUR HAZIRAH SHUKUR & NUR HUSNINA RAMLAN
KUCHING: Evidence-based research works are very important in aiding the government chart policies and programmes to address specific issues and target groups.
Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said her ministry welcomed such efforts which would benefit the people at large.
“Any study or research that is a benchmark at the ministry level to implement policies, activities or programmes must be based on evidence.
“Therefore, we really appreciate the cooperation of researchers for the works, especially studies that are really relevant to our ministry,” she said.
She said this to reporters when met after the ‘My Research Experience’ sharing session at the New State Legislative Assembly (DUN) building, here yesterday.
Commenting on the programme, she said it was a sharing session by several women academic and researchers.
“As we all know, every Women’s Day celebration at the Sarawak state level, we will publish a book and this year is no exception.
“Therefore, in conjunction with the state-level women’s day which falls on March 8 this year, a book has been completed and published with the theme ‘Sarawak Women in Scientific Writing’ involving women researchers,” she said.
She noted that the studies conducted by the researchers covered various fields and were not just traditionally related to or associated with women.
Fatimah said she hoped that in this way, the perception of the role of women could change in society.
“Previously, we have also highlighted women in terms of their contributions in various fields such as education, politics, arts, sports, volunteerism and others.
“In fact, research is another field contributed by women because with the research, it gives a high impact not only locally but also globally where their research has been cited in the research results of others even in the field of education,” she explained.
Fatimah said her ministry would hold a series of knowledge sharing sessions in Miri and other areas with the presence of other groups of researchers.
“I hope they have inspired especially young researchers so that they can carry out research work in the future,” she said.
