THE Penang government intends to adopt the Gender Responsive and Participatory Budgeting (GRPB) approach when formulating a guideline for stakeholders’ consultation.
State Social Development and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Chong Eng proposed that the state could refer to this aspect in future.
She said the suggestion had been brought up during the state executive council meeting recently.
“For instance, GRPB may be one of the ways for stakeholders to adopt when implementing various plans.
“In fact, GRPB had taken place at Desa Wawasan flats in Bukit Mertajam which is the first People’s Housing Project (PPR) in the country to be awarded the services contract.
“It is important to include the community through an engagement to improve the quality of life.
“Good results can be achieved through this effort when the community participates in the management,” she told reporters after attending the appointment certificate handover ceremony of the ‘focal point’ officers of gender inclusion policy at Courtyard by Marriott in Macalister Road yesterday.
A total of 74 executives from 37 institutions have been appointed to promote gender-inclusive policies in the various departments.
Chong Eng also emphasised that GRBP programmes help to recognise the differences in the needs of different people.
“For example, the needs of disabled persons must be prioritised when certain facilities are built for them.
“We need to take their difficulties into consideration and come out with something that suits their needs and wants,” she added.
Also present were Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC) chief executive officer Ong Bee Leng, state Housing Board general manager Ainul Fadhilah Samsudi and Penang Island City Council officers.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan