1Malaysia PERWANI Community launched in Washington DC

The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry today launched the United States (US) 1Malaysia PERWANI Community comprising 20 women and wives of Malaysian representatives in Washington DC.

Its minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said the Washington DC 1Malaysia PERWANI Community was the fourth to be launched abroad after London (United Kingdom), Paris (France) and Melbourne (Australia).

According to Rohani, the Washington DC 1Malaysia PERWANI Community was aimed at promoting and enhancing Malaysia's reputation in various aspects through participation in leadership, volunteer, entrepreneurship, educational and sports programmes which would be organised from time to time.

"Since PERWANI was introduced from 2013 until September 2017, some 13,183 PERWANI groups have been established nationwide and overseas with a membership of 172,309 Malaysian women aged 18 and above, with each group comprising 10 to 20 members," she said in a statement today.

Speaking at the launch, Rohani expressed hope that the membership in Washington DC would increase especially among youths and students to foster the spirit of volunteerism and provide the opportunity for the group to act as transformation agents at community level despite being overseas.

At the event, Rohani also shared information on the Domestic Violence (Amendment) Act 2017 and the Sexual Offences Against Children Bill to raise awareness among communities living abroad.

Rohani was among delegates accompanying Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on his three-day working visit to the United States beginning yesterday.

Najib and wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor who arrived in the US yesterday were greeted by Malaysia's Ambassador to the US, Tan Sri Dr Zulhasnan Rafique at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

Najib is scheduled to meet US President Donald J. Trump today at the White House.

The meeting at the invitation of President Trump is in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and the US.

-- BERNAMA