Latest news with #FatimahAbdullah
Borneo Post
4 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Targeted initiatives to reduce poverty, youth unemployment in Dalat, says minister
Fatimah (seated centre) in a photocall with community leaders after the press conference. DALAT (July 17): The Sarawak Ministry of Women, Early Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development is intensifying efforts to tackle poverty and youth unemployment in Dalat through targeted initiatives and inter-agency collaboration, said minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah. Speaking at a press conference at Kompleks Kebajikan Dalat today, Fatimah said two key meetings involving community leaders and government agencies were held to address these issues. In the first meeting, she said they reviewed poverty data and discussed strategies to uplift affected households. 'According to data provided by the Sarawak Development Office (SDO), there are 161 households identified as poor in the Dalat area. 'All names were verified on the ground with input from community leaders and agencies present. Some were found to have exited poverty as they now own assets. 'However, before their names are officially removed from the poverty database, SDO will conduct further verification visits,' she said. Fatimah added that assistance is being provided to eligible households through the Welfare Department and empowerment programmes. 'Some receive monthly financial aid, while others are supported under the low-income empowerment scheme through provision of equipment tailored to their specific needs, with the aim of improving their household income,' she said. She also mentioned that households with unverifiable or outdated information will be removed from the list. 'Our KPI (key performance index) is to revisit these 161 households by year-end to assess the outcomes of our interventions,' she added. On youth unemployment, she revealed that based on 2023 data, Dalat has 105 unemployed graduates, with 29 actively seeking employment. 'For those currently working, we are analysing the nature of their jobs and qualifications. Some are under temporary contracts,' said the Dalat rep. To address this, she said the ministry will roll out follow-up programmes including skills training, career development workshops, and sharing sessions. Agencies like Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) will be invited to provide job market guidance, while advisory counters and exhibition booths will be set up to support young jobseekers. Separately, Fatimah announced that the Dalat District Office has received approval for the appointment of new community leaders and extension of terms for existing ones. 'This is part of an ongoing exercise to ensure committed and resilient leadership at the grassroots level,' she said. She also disclosed an allocation of RM491,000 under the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government's housing repair grant, benefitting 38 homes in local villages. 'Each village must have at least one home selected for repair, ensuring fair and equitable distribution. 'If a village has no homes in need of repair, the quota will be reallocated to another in greater need,' she said. Fatimah praised the quality of work under the programme, likening some repairs to newly built homes. 'From 2018 to 2025, a total of 470 recipients have benefited from the Home Improvement Programme, amounting to RM6.47 million in funding,' she said. Dalat fatimah abdullah poverty targeted initiatives youth unemployment
Borneo Post
5 days ago
- General
- Borneo Post
Hand and Sign Day 2025 to boost sign language awareness among S'wakians, says Fatimah
Fatimah (seated centre), officials from SSD and Sedidik, and organising committee members, show the sign language for 'I Love You' during this photo opportunity. KUCHING (July 17): The upcoming Hand and Sign Day 2025 celebration can be a catalyst to popularise the use of sign language among Sarawakians, said State Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah. She said bridging this communication gap would help foster better understanding, acceptance and integration of the deaf community into mainstream society, including employment sectors. She noted many people still feel awkward or unsure when communicating with deaf individuals, and attributed this discomfort to language barriers. 'We need to spread word that sign language is not only for those who are deaf, but is applicable to the larger community such as parents of deaf children or parents of ordinary children or any individual,' she said at the launch of Hand and Sign Day 2025 at the Sarawak Deaf Sports Association (SSDeaf) Building here. Fatimah also lauded the Sarawak Society for the Deaf (SSD) and SeDidik Sarawak for jointly organising the event, which will be held on Oct 25 at the Association of Churches Sarawak Hall at Jalan Stampin here. She commended SSD's initiative to hold a graduation ceremony during the event for those who have completed the sign language programme, and said it was a significant milestone towards recognising sign language proficiency as a valuable qualification. Fatimah also welcomed the idea of a long-term collaboration between the society and SeDidik Sarawak to empower the use of sign language in the state, and pledged the Sarawak government's support within its capacity. 'This is the kind of social inclusivity that the Sarawak government has always championed. We are ready to help where we can to make this collaboration a success,' she assured, adding that Sedidik recently produced 98.4 per cent of teachers who received certification certificates for the basic sign language course in Bahasa Malaysia. The ceremony also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SeDidik and SSD to collaborate in efforts to empower the use of sign language from an early age. fatimah abdullah Hand and Sign Day 2025 Sarawak Society for the Deaf
Borneo Post
5 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Dalat a model for rural education success, says Fatimah
Fatimah (centre) presents a financial study aid to a student in Dalat today. DALAT (July 16): Dalat is fast becoming a model of success in Sarawak's rural education efforts, where strategic, data-driven policies are being used to tackle poverty and widen access to higher learning. State Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, said the Dalat constituency has shown that well-targeted financial aid and strong community involvement can transform lives and strengthen local development. She revealed that Since 2010, the Dalat Education Committee has disbursed RM952,050 in aid, benefitting over 1,800 students pursuing certificate, diploma, degree and other higher education programmes. 'This is not just financial assistance, this is an investment in our children's future and in Dalat's socio-economic development. 'Education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty, and we must ensure that every child who earns a place at university has the means to go,' she said during the N.56 Dalat Education Committee Assistance Presentation Ceremony at the Dalat Service Centre here today. Fatimah said the aid, drawn from Minor Rural Project (MRP) allocations, aims to reduce the financial burden on families—particularly for upfront costs such as travel, deposits and essential supplies. 'Sometimes students don't even enrol because of financial constraints, even after receiving a university offer. That should never happen,' she said. Looking ahead, Fatimah announced that her ministry will meet this week with the State Development Office (SDO) and local community leaders to verify and update national poverty data under the eKasih system for Dalat. 'This is to ensure that our aid reaches the right people. We don't want outdated or inaccurate data. We'll work with village chiefs and community leaders to clean the list and identify those truly in need,' she said. She noted that this grassroots verification method had been effective in addressing hardcore poverty, and would now be applied to target relative poverty in the district. Fatimah also expressed concern about the rising number of unemployed graduates returning home, saying many had pursued fields that are no longer in demand. To address this mismatch, she said the Sarawak government will begin offering free higher education at state-owned institutions starting in 2026, but only for courses with strong job prospects such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), law, and finance. 'Graduates must not only obtain degrees, they must be employable. This is why we are focused on guiding students toward fields with strong job prospects,' she said. She also revealed that her team is working with the Resident's Office to identify unemployed graduates in Dalat, with plans to organise a job fair or training initiatives in collaboration with agencies such as the Social Security organisation (Perkeso). Among the education assistance available is the Sarawak Special Financial Aid of RM1,200 per year disbursed in two instalments via Yayasan Sarawak. Graduates who return to Sarawak after completing their studies are also eligible for a one-off RM300 grant, claimable twice. Fatimah urged all eligible students to apply, while reminding them of the sacrifices made by their families. 'We eat simply so our children can dream big. We hope our students remember this and stay motivated to succeed, not only for themselves but for their families and community,' she said. She reaffirmed her ministry's commitment to ensuring fair access to education and creating meaningful opportunities for rural youth. 'This is a long-term investment in Dalat's future. We want our children to succeed, come back, contribute, and lift their families and our community to greater heights,' she said. Dalat fatimah abdullah rural education
Malay Mail
12-07-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
‘Trust is the first phase': Man living on streets for 30 years among 17 helped in Kuching night raid to tackle hidden homelessness
KUCHING, July 12 — An integrated night operation involving 12 agencies led to the identification of 17 homeless individuals around Kuching early this morning, as part of efforts to provide immediate aid and safe shelter under the state's social welfare initiatives. The outreach, coordinated by the Ministry of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development (KPWK), was announced by its Minister, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, during a press conference held shortly after the operation concluded. 'As of 2am, we identified 14 men, two women, and one underage girl living without shelter,' she told reporters after the operation. She added that the operation was aimed at encouraging the homeless to receive support services through the Community Social Support Centre and the Temporary Transit Centre (TTG) Kuching. Fatimah stressed that TTG is not a detention centre, but a dignified, voluntary safe space. 'They are free to come and go, the aim is to offer them a place to sleep safely, bathe, eat, and slowly regain confidence in support systems. 'During the day, they can work; at night, they return to sleep,' she explained. She cited the case of 'Pak Mos,' a man who had lived on the streets for over 30 years and had finally agreed to receive assistance. 'At first, he refused, but tonight, he followed us to the Community Social Support Centre and will be placed at TTG. 'This is a huge step because trust is the first phase,' she said. Fatimah said individuals will undergo health screenings at the Community Social Support Centre before being placed at TTG. Conditions such as high blood pressure, leg cramps, or other underlying health issues will be identified and referred for appropriate action. She also noted the importance of identifying peer influencers within the homeless community. 'We found someone who can act as a leader. If we help him, he can help us reach others. 'His influence led several of his friends to agree to engage with us,' she said. The operation also highlighted the fluidity of homelessness data in Kuching. Fatimah said some individuals may return to their hometowns temporarily, while others end up on the streets due to job loss or inability to pay rent. 'One person voluntarily went to Hidayah Centre after losing their home due to rent issues. 'This shows homelessness isn't always long-term; it can happen suddenly and to anyone,' she explained. According to Fatimah, 134 personnel were involved, each playing a key role such as verifying identification documents, referring health issues, or addressing substance abuse concerns. Four teams were deployed to high-risk zones: Group 1 covered the Waterfront, India Street, and Electra House; Group 2 covered Satok, Wisma Satok, and Matang; Group 3 in Padungan, Padang Ragbi, and Tabuan Melayu; while Group 4 focused on King Centre, Batu 3, and MJC areas. The 12 participating agencies included the Social Development Council (MPS), Kuching Resident and District Office, Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Social Welfare Department (JKM/PKMB Kuching), Immigration Department (JIM), Kuching Divisional Health Office, National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), Kuching North City Hall (DBKU), Civil Defence Force (JPAM), National Registration Department (JPN), Kuching South City Council (MBKS), and Hidayah Centre Foundation. — The Borneo Post
Borneo Post
09-07-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Sarawak achieves over 98 pct preschool enrollment rate, aims for full inclusivity, says Fatimah
Fatimah says this achievement was the result of the cooperation and collaboration of all parties involved. – The Borneo Post photo KUCHING (July 9): The percentage of children in Sarawak with preschool education prior to entering Primary 1 has reached 98.46 per cent as of June 30 this year, said Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah. The State Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development said this achievement was the result of the cooperation and collaboration of all parties involved. 'In ensuring that every Sarawakian child gets the best start in life, we emphasise three main focuses in the Sarawak Early Childhood Development agenda, namely access, equity and quality,' she said when chairing the Sarawak Early Childhood Development Council meeting today. She said the Sarawak government was embarking on inclusivity, whereby children with disabilities would also be given early childhood education. Fatimah said based on data collected from 506 cases as of May this year, it was found that 143 cases of children not being enrolled in early childhood education was due to their parents' choice. She said some cases were due to transportation problems or financial difficulties, while some choose to teach their young children at home. Meanwhile, she announced that the Sarawak Preschool International Conference 2025 will be held from Sept 26-28. Themed 'Building the Nation Through Quality Early Childhood Education', it aims to attract physical participation of 300 people and virtual attendance by 1,000. early childhood fatimah abdullah preschool
