Latest news with #SarawakWelfareDepartment
Borneo Post
23-06-2025
- Borneo Post
Activist calls for further expansion of child protection services into rural areas
Voon Shiak Ni KUCHING (June 24): The state government should go all out in enhancing the child protection mechanism to better protect the vulnerable and rural communities. In highlighting this, social activist Voon Shiak Ni said it was shocking that a total of 572 child abuse cases had been reported in Sarawak throughout the first half of this year. 'I believe this could just be the tip of the iceberg. 'Usually, many incidents go unreported because the victims are children, and many do not have the ability and access to make the reports for themselves, unless someone helps them. 'Under-reporting remains a major issue, especially in abuse cases when the crimes are committed in a family setting,' she said in a statement yesterday. In this regard, Voon highlighted the importance of the authorities to engage public participation in the battle against child abuse and neglect. She also emphasised the urgent need to strengthen community awareness and advocacy for child protection. Adding on, she called upon the relevant ministry to provide a breakdown on the 572 cases reported this year to date. 'The nature of abuse committed on children, whether related to physical abuse, child neglect, sexual abuse or online-related abuse, should be made known publicly. 'This is helpful information to the public, for them to lend their eyes and ears and watch out for any possibilities of the said abuse happening in their neighbourhoods.' According to Voon, who is a lawyer, the country's legal framework provides comprehensive protection to children through the Child Act 2001, the Penal Code, Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, and Domestic Violence Act 1994. 'These laws criminalise abuse, neglect and exploitation, while mandating reporting and enabling court-ordered protection for at-risk children,' she said. 'We also cannot deny that enforcement gaps, under-reporting and lack of access and support from authorities continue to hinder the effectiveness of these laws, particularly in remote areas of Sarawak.' Thus, she reiterated her call on the state government to take the lead in expanding access to child protection services especially into the rural and indigenous areas, to encourage reporting of the crimes. She believed that such move would also enable more accurate assessment of the seriousness of the crimes happening on the ground, and identify effective systems to address and curb the crimes. On Sunday, federal Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said a total of 572 child abuse and neglect cases were registered in Sarawak from January to June this year. These statistics, released by the Sarawak Welfare Department, underscored the urgent need to strengthen community awareness and advocacy for child protection, she added. child protection lead rural communities Voon Shiak Ni
Borneo Post
31-05-2025
- Health
- Borneo Post
Sarawak govt contributes RM10,000 to Lions Nursing Home for Gawai
Fatimah presents a Kenyalang Gold Card to one of the residents of Lions Nursing Home in Kuching. KUCHING (June 1): Lions Nursing Home Kuching today received a festive contribution of RM10,000 from the Sarawak government during a visit by Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah. Fatimah said the contribution was part of the ministry's ongoing outreach to senior citizens during festive seasons. 'From our delegation, on my left is the Director of the Sarawak Welfare Department, Tuan Haji Semawi. 'In our brief discussion just now, he said that we still have the funds, and we are going to donate RM10,000 – that is our Gawai gift and our ziarah (visitation) gift for today,' she told a press conference held in conjunction with the Program Ziarah Warga Emas Sempena Sambutan Hari Gawai Dayak dan Hari Raya Aidiladha 2025 at the nursing home on Saturday. Fatimah also announced that Kenyalang Gold Cards and the Senior Citizen Health Benefit (SCHB) initiative would be extended to eligible residents of the home. She said the effort aimed to improve access to health services and support systems for senior citizens in the state. 'The Kenyalang Gold Card will allow them to receive discounts and rebates from our strategic partners, especially pharmacies and private hospitals,' she said. She also highlighted that the SCHB initiative, which provides RM500 annually per eligible recipient, will continue next year. This benefit is available to those with household incomes below RM7,000, to support medical treatment at private clinics and hospitals. 'I have to thank Dr Asmah (Nazahiyah Said), Head of the Private Medical Practice Control Branch, Sarawak State Health Department, who has been helping us from the beginning to ensure this health benefit becomes a reality, especially in identifying potential panel clinics,' she said. Fatimah expressed appreciation to Lions Nursing Home and its chairperson Datin Ellis Suriyati Omar for their service and commitment. She noted that Ellis' contributions to society extend beyond the state level. 'She is very active not only locally but also globally through the Lions Club. Because of her involvement, we have nominated her for a state-level Women's Day award under the social activist category,' she said. The visit also included officers from her ministry, the Sarawak Welfare Department, the Social Development Council, and researchers currently conducting a state-wide study on aging in Sarawak. 'This is a comprehensive study covering over 3,000 respondents across urban and rural areas, including different ethnic groups and gender segments. It is being carried out by a consortium involving Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Curtin University Malaysia and University of Technology Sarawak,' she said. She said the findings from the study would be crucial in preparing Sarawak for the challenges of becoming an aging state by 2028. 'We want to understand the profile of our senior citizens – what issues they face depending on where they live, their gender, and their ethnicity – so we can provide the right support systems,' she said. Fatimah stressed that the state government is committed to ensuring the wellbeing of all age groups, from children and women to at-risk individuals and senior citizens. 'Our ministry's responsibility is to ensure that no one is left behind in the state's development. Everyone, whether young or old, rich or poor, deserves proper attention,' she said. The minister recalled a previous visit to the home during Chinese New Year, where a resident broke down in tears and expressed a longing for family visitation. 'That memory has stayed with me. Our visit today is to give cheer and confidence. You are not alone, we are with you,' she said. Fatimah commended the Lions Nursing Home for its 30 years of continuous service despite financial challenges, describing its contribution as a testament to the organisation's credibility. 'Congratulations and thank you. May God guide us in our quest to provide care and comfort to the needy and disadvantaged in our society,' she said. fatimah abdullah Kuching Lions Nursing Home
Borneo Post
08-05-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Welfare Dept distributes over RM51 mln in aid to 21,604 recipients as of April
Gira (third right) hands over a hamper to a recipient, witnessed by Mohamad Razi (centre). SIBU (May 8): The Sarawak Welfare Department has disbursed approximately RM51 million in assistance to 21,604 monthly aid recipients across the state as of April this year, said Datuk Mohamad Razi Sitam. The Deputy Minister for Women, Children and Community Wellbeing Development said the government remains committed to channelling appropriate assistance to targeted groups and eligible individuals. 'This assistance is not only aimed at easing the burden of recipients but also serves as moral support, encouraging them to continue striving for a better life,' he said during the Sejambak Kasih Hari Gawai 2025 event at the Selangau Multipurpose Hall today. Elaborating, he said there are currently eight aid schemes in Sarawak, namely Elderly Assistance, Children's Assistance, General Assistance, Allowance for Disabled Workers, Assistance for Non-Working Disabled Persons, Care Assistance for Bedridden Disabled Persons/Chronic Patients, Foster Child Assistance, and Youth and Young Women Assistance. 'We also have a 'top-up' system from the Sarawak government, which means the state does not rely entirely on federal government allocations but supplements the assistance provided,' he said. Mohamad Razi urged parents and community members to be aware of the available government aid schemes, especially for children born with disabilities or those categorised as Persons with Disabilities (PwD). 'Please go for check-ups at hospitals and obtain specialist confirmation to classify them as PwD. Then apply for the PwD card through the Welfare Department or the nearest welfare office. 'Do not hide the fact if you have family members who qualify as a PwD. Similarly, those who become disabled later in life, for example due to an accident and are unable to work, should also obtain a doctor's certification and apply for the PwD card to qualify for assistance.' On the Sejambak Kasih Hari Gawai 2025 programme, the deputy minister said the Welfare Department has been providing RM100 in cash contributions and RM80 worth of festive hampers to recipients for over 20 years. He explained that the contribution aims to ease the financial burden of recipients as they prepare for festive celebrations. 'We want to ensure disadvantaged groups can also experience the festive atmosphere, especially with the upcoming Gawai celebration. Most importantly, this programme strengthens the bond between implementing agencies such as the Welfare Department and the aid recipients,' he said. He also advised recipients to use the assistance wisely and take it as motivation to improve their quality of life. 'Let this assistance remind us of the importance of gratitude and mutual support. Life's challenges may be difficult, but every sincere effort we make will bear fruit.' Also present at the event was Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira Sambang. razi sitam Sibu Welfare Department
