I was sworn in as Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development in March 2004. Wasting no time I launched an important skills training programme for women called SUTERA SARI. This was a 3-day sewing skills training programme conducted in 29 areas all over the country. A total of 870 women were trained in this programme which is aimed at empowering poor Indian women into self-reliant entrepreneurs.

On 6 May 2006, YB Dato Sri Sharizat Abdul Jalil, Minister for Women, Family and Community Development launched the second phase of the Sutera Sari programme was conducted in 70 areas and trained another 2,100 women for the year 2006 – 2007.