By Yasmin Ramlan
SHAH ALAM, March 4 — State executive councillor for women empowerment and welfare Anfaal Saari said the Greater Klang Valley initiative would give careful consideration to vulnerable groups, such as women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities (OKU).
During her winding-up speech at the Selangor State Legislative Assembly sitting today, Anfaal addressed a suggestion raised by state assemblyman Subang Jaya Michelle Ng to make Selangor a more welcoming state for women.
In her debate on the royal address by Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj last week, Ng shared her personal experience as a mother and related the challenges she encountered during her breastfeeding journey due to the lack of suitable facilities.
“I truly understand the concerns raised by Subang Jaya regarding the need for women-friendly facilities, particularly for breastfeeding mothers. This (the need for proper facilities) also includes other vulnerable groups, such as children, senior citizens and the disabled.
“The state government will review building standards and public places to incorporate its universal design.
“The state government also intends to establish the Greater Klang Valley into the first region with an administration that is friendly for the elderly, OKU group, children, and women,” she told the state assembly sitting.
The Greater Klang Valley is a strategic move to manage growth complexities by introducing an enactment to formalise its creation.
With an allocation of RM2 million in the 2024 Selangor Budget tabled on November 10 of last year, the planned conurbation will include the four cities in Selangor, namely Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, Shah Alam, and Klang.
Meanwhile, Anfaal said that the state administration will conduct a comprehensive study to assess the needs of the elderly population in Selangor.
“To draft evidence-based policies, the state government will conduct a study to understand the needs of senior citizens in the state.
“The findings from this study will guide the state government to determine the necessary assistance and empowerment initiatives needed for senior citizens in Selangor,” she said in response to Pelabuhan Klang state assemblyman Azmizam Zaman Huri’s suggestion for the state government to consider increasing assistance under the Skim Mesra programme.
