KOTA KINABALU, March 11 — Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri is urging women to sign up for the Wanita Bangkit@KPWKM programme as it is one of the best platforms to boost their economic standing.

She said the programme would help women escape from difficulties to become successful entrepreneurs and be able to help other women by offering jobs through small businesses.

"I would like to urge those who are here today to seize this opportunity to boost their family’s income and enjoy a better standard of living in the future,” she said when officiating the programme, which was attended by over 500 women here today.

She said several initiatives introduced under the programme, including the Wanita Bangkit@KPWKM MyKasih Kapital, which provided assistance to women affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, had enabled them to start their own small-scale businesses.

"The programme will empower women by optimizing their potential based on their skills so they are not wholly reliant on government aid,” she said.

Nancy said MyKasih Kapital participants will be assessed, monitored and asked to attend courses by government agencies, including the Social Security Organisation (Socso), as well as sharing sessions with successful entrepreneurs to prepare them for business.

She said 18,250 women have joined the programme so far. — Bernama