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Borneo Post
6 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 She also mentioned that households with unverifiable or outdated information will be removed from the list.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
23-05-2025
- Health
- Borneo Post
Sarawak requests two new narcotics rehab centres amid rising drug cases
Razi says currently operates only one Puspen facility located in Puncak Borneo which has a limited capacity of 350 clients – 250 under court orders and 100 voluntary participants. – Photo by Roystein Emmor KUCHING (May 23): The Sarawak Ministry of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development (KPWK) has submitted a formal request to the federal Home Affairs Ministry (KDN) for the establishment of two new Narcotics Addiction Rehabilitation Centres (Puspen) in the state. KPWK deputy minister Datuk Razi Sitam said the application was filed on March 11 this year in response to a growing need for expanded rehabilitation capacity across Sarawak. 'The number of arrests for drug-related offences remains high, with 33,115 recorded between 2022 to 2024,' said Razi during the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today in response to a question from Royston Valentine (GPS – Tellian). Sarawak, he added, currently operates only one Puspen facility located in Puncak Borneo which has a limited capacity of 350 clients – 250 under court orders and 100 voluntary participants. 'This is insufficient to meet the increasing demand for institutional treatment and rehabilitation,' he pointed out. In addition, he said the proposed Puspen centres could significantly enhance Sarawak's capacity to address drug addiction and support long-term recovery outcomes. To complement institutional efforts, he said the Sarawak government has also established Community Development and Intervention Centres (CDIC), which function as referral centres for prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of individuals and families affected by substance abuse. These centres support community-based rehabilitation initiatives coordinated by agencies such as the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK), the Sarawak State Health Department (JKNS), and various non-governmental organisations (NGOs). drug rehab centres DUN puspen razi sitam
