KUCHING: Women are urged to play a bigger role to supplement their family income in view of the rising cost of living, said Datin Noraini Hussien, wife of Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman.

LOOK AT THAT: Zainab (centre) points out some delicacies put up for judging to Noraini (right) at one of the exhibition booths.

She said the current economic situation had made it ‘inevitable’ for the prices of food and other items to be on an upward trend, and thus she called on women to play an active role to ensure that their household wouldn’t feel the pinch much.

She suggested that they did extra work like planting their own vegetable in the backyard, tailoring or baking cakes for sale in their neighbourhood.

Noraini said this when officiating at the opening of the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Semarak branch of Sarawak Federation of Women’s Institute (SFWI) in Kampung Gita.

She also told the womenfolk the importance of managing their expenses prudently.

“Manage your daily expenses wisely, prevent wastage and buy only necessary things.”

Noraini pointed out that SFWI members should make good use of the knowledge and skills that they had obtained from being members of the worldwide body, and commended the SFWI for motivating the womenfolk, especially those in the villages.

Meanwhile, a number of activities were lined up for the one-day celebration, which included food fair and a telematch, futsal competition, children colouring contest, and chicken-cooking, pudding-making and modern cake-baking competitions.

SFWI deputy chairperson Zainab Tambi, Semarak branch chairperson Masnah Ramli and an exco member Datin Fatimah Mok were among those present at the function.