Good Luck for the Way Forward
UCLG ASPAC congratulates Dato’ Maimunah Mohd Sharif, our Chair of Women Standing Committee and an inspiring Mayor of Penang, Malaysia, on her new position as the Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). As President of Standing Committee on Women in Local Government, Dato’ Maimunah has been a prime example of exemplary woman leadership to local governments in Asia-Pacific region, particularly our member cities, both as Mayor of Seberang Perai and lastly Penang.
In the Municipal Council of Seberang Perai (MPSP), she successfully integrated a gender perspective into governance processes. Her strategies of engaging with the community have also been inspiring. More than developing high quality public spaces, she has also developed activities for the people in these places, and herself, took part in them to build trust.This, therefore, paved the way for local people to be involved and to participate in her “Re-Think” program in addition to the 3R (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) to reduce waste from food. The result was impressive since the waste reduced to 32%. With a wider influence to spread her innovative and encouraging spirit, we, at UCLG ASPAC, are proud of her. “Congratulations to Dato’ Maimunah Mohd Sharif, the new Executive Director of UNHabitat. We are looking forward to your achievements and throw our support behind your leadership.”