KUCHING: Every individual can acquire greatness if he works hard to reach his true potential.

Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah highlighted this yesterday at the opening of ‘From Passion to Profession’, an experience-sharing session by professional Arab woman photographer Susan Baaghil at Wisma Wanita here.

Fatimah was inspired by Susan’s accomplishments in photography despite coming from a conservative Saudi Arabian society.

“We are extremely honoured to meet a woman photographer who has a long list of international awards under her belt,” she said.

“Her experience tells us that it is possible to become someone great if you have passion and work hard to develop and polish the talent in order to really shine,” she added.

The sharing session was organised by Islamic Information Centre (ICC) together with Sarawak Women and Family Council and the Women’s Bureau.

Some 150 participants from the Sarawak Women and Family Council, various women non-governmental organisations (NGOs), associations, government departments and corporate organisations attended the event.
This event marked the ICC’s efforts in promoting and communicating the universality of Islam through creative and aesthetic expressions so as to provide a better understanding and an enhanced appreciation of the religion among the multi-ethnic and multi-religious populace of Sarawak.

Susan, whose career spans 25 years, has travelled the world to share her experience and photographs and her works have been sold at numerous auctions, for both charity and commercial purposes.

Meanwhile, Fatimah shared with Susan that women-friendly policies were in place in Malaysia to ensure equal rights, access to opportunities for all and participation in development in all sectors.

“Women in Malaysia have made exceptional progress since our country achieved independence, notably in education and employment,” she stressed.

“Most universities in Malaysia recorded over 60 per cent in female enrolment, as we place education as the highest priority because with a high level of education, it opens doors to many opportunities,” she said.

On labour force participation, Fatimah revealed that urban women made up 45.8 per cent of the workforce in 2009 compared to 31.6 per cent in 1980.

“We have more women in the workforce now holding senior positions and more are involved in under-represented professions like technology, science and engineering,” she said.

“In addition, Sarawak is also working towards achieving 30 per cent of women at the decision-making level to catch up with our Peninsular Malaysia counterparts,” she said.

Fatimah emphasised that Malaysian women will continue to progress in tandem as Malaysia aims to become a developed country by 2020 while Sarawak aspires to be a developed state by 2030.

“I hope you will come back and take photos of our people and show it to the world of culture and heritage,” she added.

Also present at the event were Women’s Bureau director Noriah Ahmad and Alvin Leong Academy of Photography director Alvin Leong.