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The Star
16-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Sabah govt committed to strengthening people's well-being, says Hajiji
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government remains firm in its commitment to safeguarding the well-being of its people and ensuring no one is left behind in the country's social development efforts. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said that social wellbeing remains a core priority of the state administration, with substantial allocations set aside to support vulnerable groups. "For this year alone, RM162.42mil has been allocated to the Ministry of Community Development and People's Wellbeing and its related agencies to carry out various programmes directly benefiting the people. "Of this amount, RM76.29mil is being channelled towards supporting persons with disabilities, senior citizens, single mothers, children, and orphans through targeted assistance schemes," he said. Speaking at the Kembara Kasih KPWKM 2025 and the Mobile One-Stop Social Support Centre (PSSS) launch at Padang Astaka in Tuaran on Friday (May 16), Hajiji said an additional RM956,000 has also been allocated for wellbeing programmes focusing on family development, consumer rights, women's empowerment, and healthy lifestyles. He also revealed that RM550,000 has been allocated to the Malaysian Drug Prevention Association (PEMADAM) Sabah to address drug abuse, particularly among students. He thanked the Federal Government, particularly the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, for its continued assistance to the people of Sabah. This includes RM300,000 in flood relief aid for Sabah in 2025 from the National Welfare Foundation and RM2.1mil for the operation of 384 Temporary Evacuation Centres during flood emergencies. A further RM330mil under the Federal Government's 2025 Financial Assistance Programme has also been earmarked for Sabah, with RM315mil already distributed to 45,572 recipients via the Department of Social Welfare. 'This clearly reflects the Federal Government's commitment to the well-being of Sabahans and its determination to strengthen the social safety net,' Hajiji said. He also welcomed the launch of the Mobile PSSS initiative, describing it as timely amid the nation's growing mental health challenges following the Covid-19 pandemic. Quoting a Health Ministry report, he said over five million Malaysians are struggling with depression, anxiety and stress, with suicide cases on the rise. 'This mobile unit is expected to reach rural communities, offering much-needed psychosocial support, especially for individuals dealing with divorce, abuse, unemployment, and financial hardship.' Hajiji encouraged residents, particularly those along the Kembara Kasih 2025 route, to attend and take full advantage of the services offered. The initiative covers two main zones in Sabah, namely Tuaran, Papar, and Penampang under Zone 1, and Zone 2 covers Lahad Datu, Kunak, and Tawau, bringing together various government agencies to provide holistic welfare support. He also expressed hope that such programmes would continue and be extended to other districts in the future. Also present were Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri and Sabah Rural Development Minister Datuk Jahid Jahim.
Borneo Post
08-05-2025
- Borneo Post
Community, authorities' involvement vital in combating drugs, says Pemadam Bintulu chief
Awang Mohammed Nizam (centre) and the committee members pose for a group photo after the meeting. BINTULU (May 9): Enforcement agencies and the local community must continue working hand in hand in the fight against drug abuse, particularly in both urban and rural areas, said Malaysian Drug Prevention Association (Pemadam) Bintulu District chairman Awang Mohammed Nizam Awang Ali Bohan. He called on community leaders across various ethnic groups, including the Malay, Iban, and Chinese communities, to play a proactive role in disseminating anti-drug messages through creative and culturally relevant approaches. 'The fight against drugs should not be borne solely by the authorities. It requires active community participation to serve as the eyes and ears in monitoring and reporting drug-related activities,' he said. Awang Mohammed Nizam, who is also the Bintulu District Officer, made these remarks as reported by the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) during the Pemadam Bintulu District annual general meeting on Wednesday at the Sri Bintulu Meeting Room, Bintulu Resident's Office. He reiterated Pemadam Bintulu's District commitment to strengthening awareness campaigns throughout the year, with several initiatives and activities already in the pipeline and to be announced soon. 'Volunteerism within the community is key to the success of drug prevention efforts. It makes the community a crucial support system for the authorities in safeguarding public well-being,' he added. Also present at the meeting were Pemadam Bintulu District secretary Latifah Moksen, deputy chairman Kaderi Yusof, women's vice chairperson Noriha Ali, and Inspector Stanford Peter from the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division of the Bintulu District Police Headquarters. Inspector Stanford shared the latest drug-related statistics in Bintulu District, highlighting a significant drop in arrests involving various types of drugs from January to April 2025 compared to the previous year. He attributed this positive development to the strong collaboration among multiple stakeholders in the ongoing efforts to curb drug-related activities. Bintulu drugs lead Pemadam
