Latest news with #NorainiAhmad
The Sun
4 days ago
- General
- The Sun
SG woman shares why she chooses to stay child-free
A heartfelt post by a Singapore-based woman in her late 30s has gone viral after she opened up about why she and her husband of eight years have chosen not to have children — despite constant pressure from family, friends, and society. In the now widely shared post on Facebook, the woman shares how she and her husband are part of a growing number of couples opting out of parenthood — not because they don't want kids, but because they simply can't afford to raise them in today's economy. 'We're a dual-income household. On paper, it looks okay. But after paying off the mortgage, bills, groceries, elderly parents' medical needs and daily expenses—what's left?' ALSO READ: More married couples opting to go child-free She highlighted that childcare fees can easily exceed SGD1,000 (RM3,292) a month, hiring a domestic helper comes with added responsibilities and costs, and asking one parent to stay home means sacrificing years of career growth—often with no return. 'We don't want to raise a child only to work ourselves to exhaustion every night just to stay afloat. We don't want to live on instant noodles by the 20th of every month.' She also raised concerns about the future children would face: academic stress, screen addiction, mental health struggles, and the pressures of a hyper-competitive society. 'We're still in survival mode ourselves—how can we promise them a complete and safe world? READ MORE: Child-free trend among couples a concern - Noraini Ahmad She confessed that she has a deep respect for anyone who chooses to be parents but hopes society stops using the 'traditional family template' to define happiness. 'You can't keep complaining about low birth rates while making it impossible for us to breathe. 'It's not that we don't want children—it's that the reality we live in doesn't allow us to bring them into this pressure-cooker of a city. 'Please stop asking us, 'So, when are you having kids?' We're already doing our best—just to live well.'
The Sun
20-05-2025
- The Sun
Continuous counselling for families of FRU truck crash victims
IPOH: The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) will continue to offer emotional support to the families of nine Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel who died in a tragic crash on Jalan Chikus-Sungai Lampam in Teluk Intan on May 13. Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad said the ministry, through the Social Welfare Department (JKM), is ready to provide counselling assistance to the victims' families at any time. She added that initial counselling has already been offered to all next of kin, in collaboration with relevant ministries and agencies. 'JKM has been on the ground from the beginning, providing counselling support to the families affected by the tragedy that claimed nine lives. Initial financial assistance has also been provided. 'So far, feedback from counselling sessions with the bereaved families shows positive progress,' she told reporters after visiting the home of a victim from FRU Unit 5, Sungai Senam, here today. Also present were Perak State Assembly deputy speaker Jenny Choi Tsi Jen and Ipoh Timur Member of Parliament, Howard Lee Chuan How. Noraini said the ministry is also prepared to provide any assistance needed by the families affected by the tragic accident. 'We have not forgotten the families of injured personnel and those still being treated in the hospital. Counsellors have been deployed to conduct visits, and these efforts will continue as long as there is a need for counselling,' she said. Earlier, Noraini, through the Yayasan Kebajikan Negara (YKN), contributed RM1,000 in aid under the Special Assistance Scheme for Victims' Families (PEKA YKN) to the families of the accident victims. Apart from the nine fatalities, the 8.50 am crash on May 13, between an FRU truck and a lorry loaded with gravel stones, also left five team members seriously injured and four others with minor injuries. The truck was carrying 18 FRU personnel, including the driver, and was on its way back to Ipoh after completing an assignment at Menara Condong, Teluk Intan.
Barnama
20-05-2025
- Barnama
Continuous Counselling For Families Of FRU Truck Crash Victims
IPOH, May 20 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) will continue to offer emotional support to the families of nine Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel who died in a tragic crash on Jalan Chikus-Sungai Lampam in Teluk Intan on May 13. Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad said the ministry, through the Social Welfare Department (JKM), is ready to provide counselling assistance to the victims' families at any time. She added that initial counselling has already been offered to all next of kin, in collaboration with relevant ministries and agencies. 'JKM has been on the ground from the beginning, providing counselling support to the families affected by the tragedy that claimed nine lives. Initial financial assistance has also been provided. 'So far, feedback from counselling sessions with the bereaved families shows positive progress,' she told reporters after visiting the home of a victim from FRU Unit 5, Sungai Senam, here today. Also present were Perak State Assembly deputy speaker Jenny Choi Tsi Jen and Ipoh Timur Member of Parliament, Howard Lee Chuan How. Noraini said the ministry is also prepared to provide any assistance needed by the families affected by the tragic accident. 'We have not forgotten the families of injured personnel and those still being treated in the hospital. Counsellors have been deployed to conduct visits, and these efforts will continue as long as there is a need for counselling,' she said. Earlier, Noraini, through the Yayasan Kebajikan Negara (YKN), contributed RM1,000 in aid under the Special Assistance Scheme for Victims' Families (PEKA YKN) to the families of the accident victims.
The Star
20-05-2025
- The Star
FRU crash: JKM to provide continuous counselling to families of personnel involved, says Deputy Minister
IPOH: The Social Welfare Department (JKM) will provide continuous counselling to families of the FRU personnel who perished or were injured in the road accident in Teluk Intan last week, says Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad. The Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister said JKM officers have informed her that they had reached out to families involved. She said families could just give the officers a call and that they would go to their houses to assist them. 'I have been informed that counselling services are provided through two channels, one through the police, and another through JKM itself. 'The one under JKM will be carried out on an ongoing basis. It is not just for a few days, but it will continue for as long as the victims or their families need it. 'Counselling has already been provided, some have already had sessions, while others have been contacted by JKM officers or the families have already been reached out to,' she told reporters after visiting the wife and parents of Kpl Muhamad Akmal Muhamad, 35, who were among the nine killed in the crash on May 13. Noraini added that the duration of counselling depended on the needs of the families, and as for the children, she would ask the department to carry out further assessments of their current condition. 'We are ready, and we are always prepared to provide the counselling services for as long as they are needed. 'The counselling includes for the children of the personnel who had passed away, as well as those who are injured,' she added Noraini said the department has provided an initial emergency aid of RM300 handed over to the affected families. 'Today, under the National Welfare Foundation (YKN), we gave RM1,000 to each family,' she added. On May 13, the incident occurred when a truck carrying 18 FRU Unit 5 members based in Sungai Senam, Ipoh, collided with a gravel-laden lorry that veered into the opposite lane. The collision resulted in eight FRU members dying at the scene and one succumbing to injuries at Teluk Intan Hospital, while nine others were injured, some critically. During the incident, the FRU vehicle was returning to Ipoh along with six other FRU vehicles after completing duties for the Chitra Pournami festival in Teluk Intan.
New Straits Times
20-05-2025
- New Straits Times
Govt ensures counselling, aid for families of FRU crash victims
IPOH: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has assured that counselling services will continue to be made available to families of the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel who were injured or killed in a recent road accident. Its deputy minister, Datuk Noraini Ahmad, said the Social Welfare Department had begun reaching out to the victims' families, with some having received counselling and others scheduled for follow-up support. "I have been informed that there are two sources of counselling - one through the police and the other through the department itself. "The counselling provided by the Social Welfare Department will be ongoing. It's not just for a couple of days; it will continue for as long as the victims or their families need it. "The duration of the counselling depends on their needs. We are always ready to provide counselling services for as long as necessary," she said. She told reporters this after visiting Noor Hasliza Mohd Hadzri, 32, the widow of Corporal Akmal Muhamad, at her home in Bercham here today. Noraini was also scheduled to visit another family member involved in the crash, which saw nine FRU policemen killed and nine others injured. She was responding to questions about the emotional toll on the children, some of whom are still traumatised, with some yet to cry or speak after the sudden loss of their fathers. "Counselling and support are not just for the mothers, but also for the children, parents and spouses of everyone affected. "They're going through this while still likely experiencing trauma. One child went to school after watching a video of his father and still feels very sad, but is trying to take on his father's role. "These are the kinds of things we are aware of. That's why I mentioned earlier that the Social Welfare Department is prepared to help, and even before the families reached out, the department's staff had already contacted them," she added. Noraini said that aside from counselling, financial aid was also being extended. Six families received RM1,000 each today through the National Welfare Foundation, in addition to immediate assistance previously distributed via emergency funds. She added that the Social Welfare Department would also assess the long-term needs of the families, particularly those who have lost their main breadwinner. "There are some who are no longer working and are now fully responsible for their families. We will investigate each case to determine what other forms of support can be provided," she said. It was reported last Tuesday that an FRU truck carrying 18 personnel from Unit 5 Sungai Senam collided with a gravel-laden lorry at 8.50am at Jalan Chikus-Sungai Lampam, Teluk Intan. Eight officers died at the scene, and a ninth passed away while receiving treatment at Teluk Intan Hospital. Nine others were injured. The FRU vehicle was returning to Ipoh after completing duties for the Chitrapournami festival when it collided with the lorry.
