Bakti's initiatives should be emulated by others: Zahid

IPOH: Programmes and activities organised by the Welfare Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers' (Bakti) to strengthen unity should be emulated by others.
Deputy Prime Ministert Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said such programmes would benefit the people as well as bringing about a positive impact.
"Intellectual discourse on current issues apart from sports activities which was held today (Wednesday) is something of substance," he said in his speech at the opening of the Barisan Nasional Elected Representatives' Wives annual programme here today.
The five-day programme, which started on Wednesday, includes badminton and tenpin bowling competitions. A total of 536 members from 14 state contingents are participating in the events.
He said other countries do not have an established and well organised association for wives of elected representatives like Bakti.
"Based on feedback from my counterparts their countries only have loose organisations to carry out their activities."
Meanwhile, Bakti president Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor called on wives of leaders to play a vital and effective role in countering lies posted on social media.
"They should check the authenicity of the information and make amendments to such postings which are slanderous and confuse the minds of the people.
"The wives can also be a link between the government and the people to disseminate information on policies to the rakyat."
She said they have a responsibility to ensure the peace, harmony and unity of the country which will be inherited by the future generation.
"We must never allow any quarters to stir racial and religious issues or to spread lies and hatred to destroy the country's unity.. it is easy to destroy but hard to build," she added.
Also present were Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and Welfare Organisation for Perak's Elected Representatives (Baiduri) president Datin Seri Saripah Zulkipli.