THIS year, the state government through the Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC), is joining hands with Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) to organise the state-level World Women’s Day celebration – ‘Commemoration of the International Women’s Day’ (IWD 2024) in March.
State Social Development, Welfare, and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim said the celebration would involve civil servants, higher learning institutions, corporate sectors, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and the public.
“It is expected that more than 2,000 participants will be joining the launching ceremony on March 7 at Dewan Tuanku Syed Putra, USM.
“Following that, a forum called ‘Forum Bicarawara,’ featuring famous social media influencers, namely Dr Malar Santhi Santherasegapan, Dr Beth Wei Yin Yam, and Che Muna Din, will be conducted.
“Later, in the evening a mini explore race with the title, ‘Purple Challenge’, will also take place in the USM compound.
“Some 100 teams comprising both women and men are targeted to take part,” Lim said during a press conference at USM today.
Lim said the registration for the race opens today until March 3, with a registration fee of RM50 per team. Early birds who register by Feb 20, need to only pay RM40.
“Each participant will receive an e-certificate, t-shirt, and an exclusive medal. Those who wish to register can visit PWDC’s Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/PWDCMalaysia ).
“Apart from that, the PWDC also intends to light up iconic buildings such as Komtar and popular places in purple to further enliven the IWD 2024 campaign.
“We hope that our Penangites will take the opportunity to celebrate the women in their lives via this campaign,” Lim added.
Meanwhile, PWDC chief executive officer Datuk Ong Bee Leng said that apart from Komtar, the PWDC also hopes that the Penang Bridge can be illuminated in purple this year and that they are working towards it.
“Every year, Komtar will turn ‘purple’ during the IWD 2024 celebration, so this time we are trying to include the Penang Bridge as well and hope it can be done.
“So, we encourage everyone to wear purple on March 8, where the International Women’s Day is observed annually, to show their support for the campaign.
“Apart from that, malls will also give away vouchers to those who are clad in purple on that day,” Ong told Buletin Mutiara.
It is learned that various other programmes to celebrate the IWD 2024 will also take place throughout March by PWDC’s respective strategic partners.
USM Women and Gender Research centre director Prof Dr Saidatulakmal Mohd thanked the state government for being supportive of programmes related to charity and women.
Also, present was USM’s community network director Dr Ainul Mohsein Abdul Mohsin, who urged the participants of the explore race to bring their own containers to help reduce the usage of plastics as USM advocates zero usage of plastics.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi