RM220.8 mln spent on programmes for needy last year
Jacob
Achoi Suim, Marilyn Ten, Jonathan Chia, Karen Bong, Daryll Law, Jeremy
Veno, Geryl Ogilvy Ruekeith & Antonia Chiam,
reporters@theborneopost.com, Photographers: Chimon Upon & Muhammad
Rais Sanusi
Datuk Fatimah Abdullah
KUCHING:
The government spent RM220.81 million in 2015 to implement various
programmes as well as provide assistance and support to improve the
living standard of the disadvantaged and needy.
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.”
Donate generously to PDK Lawas building fund – Awg Tengah
Philip Kiew, reporters@theborneopost.com
Awang Tengah, flanked on his left by Dayang Morliah and Henry, presents raya goodies to the orphans.
LAWAS:
The public is urged to donate generously to the building fund of a PDK
(training and rehabilitation) permanent building here which will take
about RM400,000 to complete.
Second Minister of Resource Planning
and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said this at the
presentation of Hari Raya goodies to 230 orphans and people with special
needs at Lawas Indoor Stadium yesterday.
He said a piece of land
in the town had been approved by the state government for the purpose
following a request by PDK Lawas. Lawas District Council, meanwhile, has
been assigned to carry out the project which was first mooted by his
wife and Sabati secretary Datuk Dayang Morliah Awang Daud in 2010.
Morliah,
who has been in the forefront of getting the disabled (OKUs) to be
assisted, said those registered with the centre would be eligible for
community-based rehabilitation programmes supervised by the Welfare
Department.
The formation and operation of PDK Lawas is welcomed
by the public. Previously OKUs here came under the care of Semai Bakti
programme through Perkim Lawas. It started operation at Perkim building
here.
Awang Tengah, meanwhile, said the permanent centre would
come equipped with proper facilities and trained staff who were
competent and caring in the education and rehabilitation of the OKUs.
“The staff must have the concern and patience as they are dealing with children with special needs,” he said.
Awang
Tengah appealed to the private sector to donate generously to the
building fund as part of their CSR obligations and care for needy groups
in Lawas.
Addressing parents with disabled children, the minister
urged them to be strong and determined in ensuring a better quality of
life and future for their charges.
“Every OKU child is special in
his or her own way, and parents should not be disheartened but reach out
to help available,” he said.
On the proposed Peryatim Orphanage
in Lawas, he said the earth-filling work was progressing well, paving
the way for construction work to begin.
The project was approved
by former chief minister and current Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul
Taib Mahmud. It will cater for the needs of orphans in Limbang and Lawas
districts.
“There are many orphans sent to Miri and Kuching
presently, and Peryatim Lawas can address this need for both Muslims and
non-Muslim orphans, “ he said.
Peryatim centres focus on
providing shelter and conducive environment for orphans to concentrate
on pursuing a good education as a stepping stone to a better future.
Awg
Tengah urged orphans to strengthen their resolve to better their future
through good education and skills as the government had created many
opportunities for them.
The presentation ceremony was arranged by
Perkim Lawas branch in collaboration with Bukit Sari Service Centre with
sponsorships from Aman Mantap, Tecktonic & Sons, Jade Star and East
Majuro Development.
Awang Tengah and his wife later presented
goodies to the recipients. They were assisted by Aman Mantap chairman
Samat Othman and Lee Chin Teck the managing director of Tecktonic &
Sons.
Lawas MP Datuk Henry Sum Agong, Lawas District Officer Hussaini Hakim and local community leaders were among those present.
My comments:
After paying so many kinds of taxes, people are still persuaded to donate
for this and for that. "Go bald" to help the cancer patients asks for donation. Schools ask for donation to meet the needs. There are just a lot more organisations asking for donation. I wonder why these leaders are not turning to the government for funds instead they turn to people. Is it a healthy sign?
What are the duties of the government? I really feel upset to see some people are ever too eager to take the responsibility of the government and take advantage of the sentiments of people in general. I wonder if these organisers and leaders have tried to ask the government to play the role to help cancer patients, for school buildings and so on.
"Ling goes bald to raise fund for new school building " (the Borneo Post 25 June 2016 )
What is worse is the political thugs also indulge in this abuse?
Fatimah Abdullah (陈赛明) asked the public to donate generously, too.
Adenan Satem's wife when she was invited to the function of the Agape Centre sometime this year, she also "opened her mouth" to ask the public to donate instead of asking the Sarawak or Federal government especially. Sarawak has become so poor because of the plundering and exploitation of the acts of the Malayan government.
Many people are fooled and they just donate without thinking what the Sarawak government has been doing to protect Sarawak and Sarawakians.
The practice of donating for this and that has somehow become a habitual culture and people take it for granted. The political thugs just exploit this sentiment of the people fully and save the taxes for ....
Britain has finally won the majority votes
to leave the European Union.It is
definitely a good beginning to recreate Britain at the any ways and shapes that
British desire it to be.They don’t
need to act or dance in accord or unison to the Germany-led conductor in the
whole business of economics.
I am looking forward to Sarawak and Sabah
leaving the Federation of Malaysia for good in the referendum as well.
