Community Activities
Since its formation IKWAM has been active in numerous CSR activities and projects relating to women, children and the family. This includes their engagement with aboriginal orang Asli women in local settlements and villages. When IKWAM President Tan Sri Siti Zaharah Sulaiman was made Deputy to Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar, the no.1 Advisor of the Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organization this got IKWAM automatically involved with extensive work done with displaced women of the Rohingyan plight. IKWAM’s international network is widened with friendly NGOs that share our objective of promoting the well being of families and individuals namely APFAM which stands for Asia Pacific Forum on Families Malaysia under Puan Sri Prof Jamilah Ariffin.
IKWAM President the Hon. Tan Sri Siti Zaharah Sulaiman who had just won the political seat as Chief or Ketua Wanita of the nation’s women political caucus Wanita UMNO under the ruling party Barisan Nasional (National Front) started a groundswell to mobilise the famed Amanah Saham Wanita (ASNITA) as the Malaysian women’s first ever Unit Trust Fund in 1998. The unit trust which began at 50 cents per unit share garnered the support of the women in Malaysia and was a response to the uneventful currency attack that hit Malaysia and South East Asia and managed to raise over RM 200 million which together with the government’s move to peg the currency succeeded in jumpstarting the falling currency lifting Malaysia out of the regional currency crisis.
The road map of IKWAM paralleled the beaten track of its President. The nation’s NGOs together with IKWAM were pivotal in supporting all the moves of the Government Ministries headed by Tan Sri Siti Zaharah Sulaiman to bring about positive change in the lives of Malaysians through the passing of the following Acts and approval of key national policies:
IKWAM has continued to be active in community service related work with women’s associations in and outside of the country in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives including care for the environment towards a more sustainable Malaysia. IKWAM paid the highest tribute to the Iconic Women of Nation in 2015 by organising a Royal Gala Dinner with the Prime Minister’s Department and the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development which was officiated by Her Royal Highness the Raja Perempuan Perlis Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku Tengku Fauziah binti Almarhum Tengku Abdul Rashid. The Institute raised its own funds and collaborated with government agencies and youth organisations such as Youth On Unity (YOU) domestically on unity initiatives and with Wise Kids UK internationally to promote positive and safe Internet use among young people, families and educators.
IKWAM President the Hon. Tan Sri Siti Zaharah Sulaiman who had just won the political seat as Chief or Ketua Wanita of the nation’s women political caucus Wanita UMNO under the ruling party Barisan Nasional (National Front) started a groundswell to mobilise the famed Amanah Saham Wanita (ASNITA) as the Malaysian women’s first ever Unit Trust Fund in 1998. The unit trust which began at 50 cents per unit share garnered the support of the women in Malaysia and was a response to the uneventful currency attack that hit Malaysia and South East Asia and managed to raise over RM 200 million which together with the government’s move to peg the currency succeeded in jumpstarting the falling currency lifting Malaysia out of the regional currency crisis.
The road map of IKWAM paralleled the beaten track of its President. The nation’s NGOs together with IKWAM were pivotal in supporting all the moves of the Government Ministries headed by Tan Sri Siti Zaharah Sulaiman to bring about positive change in the lives of Malaysians through the passing of the following Acts and approval of key national policies:
- Malaysia National Policy towards 70 million Population approved by the Cabinet in 1984 (Dasar Kependudukan Malaysia ke Arah 70 Juta Penduduk)
- The Employment (Amendment) Act 1984 passed by Parliament subsequently allowed female employees to receive paid maternity leave for their 3rd to 5th child
- The National Women’s Policy of 1989 (Dasar Wanita Negara) which takes into account the opportunities, challenges and environment for the present and future of Malaysian Women.
- The Children’s Act of 2001 (Akta Kanak-Kanak / Akta 611) came timely before the Global Movement for Children under UNICEF Say YES for Children in the year 2002 subsequently taken up and spearheaded in Malaysia by the Ministry of National Unity and Community Development headed by the then Minister, the Hon. Tan Sri Siti Zaharah Sulaiman (also President of IKWAM) to build a world fit for children. The movement which had its beginning in the UN Headquarters brought a universal message to the citizens of the world to care about children urging governments all across the globe to keep the promises they had made to them.
- The National Social Policy of 2003 (Dasar Sosial Negara) was formulated and passed by Cabinet to provide direction to the planning and implementation of the national social development plans to finally give rise to a progressive and sustainable Malaysia.
IKWAM has continued to be active in community service related work with women’s associations in and outside of the country in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives including care for the environment towards a more sustainable Malaysia. IKWAM paid the highest tribute to the Iconic Women of Nation in 2015 by organising a Royal Gala Dinner with the Prime Minister’s Department and the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development which was officiated by Her Royal Highness the Raja Perempuan Perlis Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku Tengku Fauziah binti Almarhum Tengku Abdul Rashid. The Institute raised its own funds and collaborated with government agencies and youth organisations such as Youth On Unity (YOU) domestically on unity initiatives and with Wise Kids UK internationally to promote positive and safe Internet use among young people, families and educators.