RM220.8 mln spent on programmes for needy last year
Datuk Fatimah Abdullah
In saying this, Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah assured that the ministry was committed to helping the target group, especially through micro entrepreneur development programmes.
“Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish you feed him for a lifetime,” she highlighted in her winding-up speech at the August House yesterday.
From 2014 to April 2016, Fatimah said, the Welfare Department deleted 103 recipients from the welfare assistance list as they were able to live independently and generate an income of RM1,000 monthly.
“A total of 771 participants are still undergoing intensive guided activities such as Iran Nyaro from Limbang whose income exceeds RM10,000 a month by involving in grocery retail.
“Besides that, there is the Job Coach programme that provides vocational skills training and life skills training for people with special needs (OKU) and children in welfare institutions.”
She also informed that from 2014 to 2015, 53 OKU trainees in the Community-Based Rehabilitation Centres (PDK) had obtained employment.
As for the vocational and life skills training, she said 122 OKUs from various PDK and Samarahan Rehabilitation Centre had obtained certificates from Kolej Komuniti in 2015 in bread-making, mushroom cultivation, welding, metal fabrication and agriculture.
Meanwhile, Irene Chang (DAP-Bukit Assek) interjected to ask whether sufficient allocation and attention were given to OKU especially in Sibu areas.
In her reply, Fatimah said from 2013 to this year, the Welfare Department approved grants amounting to RM1,602,292 for five welfare organisations and Agape Centre Sibu.
“The department also approved the setting up of three PDKs in Sibu; namely PDK Sibu (under Agape Centre Sibu), PDK Murni Jaya and PDK Muhibbah, Sg Nawan for rehabilitation and skills training.
“Further, the department now provides services of occupational therapists and physiotherapists which are not available in other states. Parents of OKU children can also get hands-on training from the therapists who together with PDK staff make home visits regularly.”
Continuing with her winding-up speech, Fatimah said prison inmates also received skill training, adding that that 109 of them had obtained skills certification in fields of clothes-making, food processing, carpentry, laundry, ferro cement and welding.
“The ministry is always conscious of the need to get all sectors of the community to be involved and participate actively in various living and income generating skills and social activities that can further enhance community wellbeing.
“To date, the ministry has set up 44 PDKs, eight Elderly Activity Centres (Pawe), and 13 Elderly Service Centres to provide senior citizens and the disabled ample opportunities so they can become active and productive members of the community.”
For sports-inclined OKUs, Fatimah said the ministry had provided the necessary support and opportunities for them to participate at local, national and even international levels.
Among the achievements, she added, were gold medals in swimming won by Jeremy Sigan from Limbang and Julius Jeranding from Kapit at Paralympic Games 2015 in Singapore and the silver they won in Korea in 2014.
“During the last Malaysia Paralympiad Games (2014) held in Perlis, the Sarawak contingent came out top with 66 gold, 55 silver and 44 bronze, and this is our 11th consecutive win as champion.
“Based on the outstanding performances of Sarawak athletes, it is only appropriate that Sarawak is given the honour to host the 18th Paralympiad this year from Aug 6 to 11.
“Our athletes have indicated that 80 gold awards is an achievable target to enable us to become champion for the 12th time. This year, Sarawak will also be hosting 19th Sukan Orang Pekak Malaysia from Sept 30 to Oct 7.”
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