News Straits Times
Penang to mark International Women's Day with grand celebrations and advocacy
8 February 2024

File pic credit (Penang Women's Development Corporation Facebook)

GEORGE TOWN: This year, the Penang state government, in collaboration with the Penang Women's Development Corporation (PWDC) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), is set to organise a state-level World Women's Day 2024 on March 7.

According to Buletin Mutiara, Penang State Social Development, Welfare, and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim announced that over 2,000 participants are expected to join the launch ceremony on March 7 at USM's Tuanku Syed Putra Hall.

This will include civil servants, academia, the corporate sector, non-governmental organisations, and the general public.

"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 the university on Feb 6.

She also added that registrations for the race would be open until March 3, with a fee of RM50 per team.

Participants registering by Feb 20 are entitled to an early bird rate of RM40. Each participant will be awarded an e-certificate, a t-shirt, and an exclusive medal. Registration can be done via PWDC's Facebook page.

To further commemorate International Women's Day 2024, iconic landmarks like Komtar and popular places will be illuminated in purple.

Lim expressed her aspiration for Penangites to honour the women in their lives through these celebrations.

PWDC CEO Datuk Ong Bee Leng shared ambitious plans to also light up the Penang Bridge in purple and encouraged the public to wear purple on March 8, in solidarity with the International Women's Day movement. Malls will join in by offering vouchers to individuals donning purple attire.

The IWD 2024 festivities will continue throughout March with various programmes organised by PWDC's strategic partners.

USM Women and Gender Research Centre director Professor Dr Saidatulakmal Mohd expressed gratitude towards the state government for supporting women-centred and charitable programmes.

Dr Ainul Mohsein Abdul Mohsin, USM's community network director, took the opportunity to encourage participants of the explore race to bring their own containers, in line with the university's advocacy for zero plastic usage.