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Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah. Photo: Mohd Alif Noni

THIS year marks the 20th year of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development (KWKPK) Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah’s involvement in politics.

Fatimah who is of Chinese and Melanau parentage first came into the political arena as a Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) candidate for Dalat constituency in the 2001 Sarawak State Election and won with 7,497 votes or 86.7 percent of votes polled against an independent candidate.

Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah. Photo: Mohd Alif Noni

She then went on to retain the seat in 2006, 2011 and 2016.

Holding a ministerial portfolio since 2001, the educationist-turned-politician has also grown accustomed to the social and welfare issues of the people.

She is also the current PBB Women chief.

New Sarawak Tribune and sister paper Suara Sarawak recently sat down with the minister for an exclusive interview. The following is part of the interaction.

New Sarawak Tribune: One of the big and long-running issues in Sarawak is the stateless children and natives with no identification documents. Can you explain the factors and the current situation?

Fatimah: The issue of stateless children stemmed from various factors. Among them are due to indifference towards the importance of an identity document and citizenship, accessibility problem due to the state’s geographical situation, and unorganised marriages including cases involving foreign women.

When this happens, a child with no identification document will face problems when it comes to their right to obtain education and processes to get assistance such as welfare and healthcare.

What are the efforts taken to solve this issue?

In 2016, the KWKPK set up a Sarawak Special Committee on Citizenship under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution to specifically look into the issue of stateless children in Sarawak. It facilitated the submission of stateless cases (names) to the National Registration Department (NRD) before submitting them to the Home Ministry for approval.

However, the committee was discontinued in July 2019 by the previous Pakatan Harapan (PH) government. Despite that, KWKPK submitted a request to the Ministry of Home Affairs last year to reinstate the special committee. There is a big possibility for the committee to make a come back. At present, all citizenship application forms and processes are managed by the NRD.

As Sarawak moves towards embracing digitalisation, many Sarawakians have fallen victim to scams and lost their money in the process.

Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah. Photo: Mohd Alif Noni

What measures have the state government taken to ensure its citizens are not caught in this web of deceit?

The ministry is collaborating with the Commercial Crimes Division of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) Sarawak Contingent to provide awareness and advocacy through community dialogues like the ‘Randau Pembangunan Social (dialogue on social development) in the rural areas and ‘Randau Solidariti Komuniti’ (dialogue on community solidarity) in the urban areas.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Social Development Council Sarawak is using social media to reach out to the community to provide information snapshots and tips to protect oneself from scams.

The Sarawak State Library (Pustaka) together with Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) has come up with a series of posters on exposing the common modus operandi used in scam cases. These posters are being promoted and pushed online through Pustaka’s online channels such as Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and so on.

As of Feb 18 this year, Sarawak recorded 146 scam victims involving losses amounting to RM26 million.

Of these, 20 cases were telecommunication fraud/phone scam/Macau scams with losses over RM385,000; 54 involving non-existent loans with losses over RM956,000; 28 impersonation scams worth over RM257,000; 26 online purchasing scams amounting to RM84,000; 12 African scams worth over RM260,000; and six Transaction Authorisation Code (TAC) number scams worth over RM42,000.

The ministry is actively carrying out awareness programmes and activities to address teenage pregnancies in Sarawak.

Can you elaborate on the update and what more can we do to stop unwanted pregnancies?

Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah. Photo: Mohd Alif Noni

Teenage pregnancy in Sarawak has seen a decreasing trend since the One-Stop Teenage Pregnancy Committee (OSTPC) was set up in 2014 to assist young pregnant teenagers in terms of their education, welfare and support, marital status, personal identification documents and legal matters. It also conducts awareness and advocacy on sexuality and reproductive health education to address safety and healthy relationships amongst children.

KWKPK is aiming for a 10 percent decrease in annual teenage pregnancies and we also want to see a decrease in the number of baby dumping cases apart from making sure that the welfare of the teenage mothers is looked into. We also encourage teenage mothers to return to school because we believe that education is very important for the future of the mother and the child to progress in life.

Therefore, the ministry took on a mapping approach where we have been carrying out integrated advocacy works in schools together with various agencies like the police, Sarawak Women for Women Society (SWWS) and Sarawak National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN).

Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah. Photo: Mohd Alif Noni

We also have a special facility in Telaga Air which acts as a shelter to protect women; rape survivors and pregnant teenagers. At the facility, the women are provided with skills training so that they can compete with others after leaving the shelter.

There have been calls for more baby hatches to be set up after the one in KPJ Specialist Hospital is abolished following the hospital’s relocation. Is there any plan to build more baby hatches?

The KPJ Specialist Hospital has informed me that they are currently doing feasibility and technical study on how to set up a new baby hatch at the new premises.

I was also made to understand that there are private hospitals that have shown interest in setting up baby hatches and the KPJ Hospital is willing to guide them with regards to the laws involved and technicalities of setting up the baby hatch facility. The United Chinese Association of Kuching, Samarahan and Serian Divisions has also given its commitment to provide support for the baby hatch facility project.

Sarawak still records thousands of arrests involving drug cases every year and what is more alarming is the involvement of students in drug use.

Are we making progress in stopping drug issues and cutting off drug supplies?

Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah. Photo: Mohd Alif Noni

Based on the amount and value of drugs and substances confiscated and the increase in arrests for drug abuse since 2018, we are making positive progress to reduce the supply of drugs in the market; reduce the demand for drugs; increase the number of treatment, recovery and rehabilitation of individuals affected by drug use.

Last year, the state recorded a total of 11,442 arrests involving drug seizures worth RM15.2 million and rescued 283,170 individuals. This is a huge increase compared to previous years where we only recorded 7,528 arrests involving drug seizures worth RM7.63 million in 2018 and 9,955 arrests involving drug seizures worth RM7.33 million in 2019.

Based on last year’s data, there are nine high-risk districts (a drop of six districts) compared to the previous year, 20 medium risk districts and 11 low-risk districts.

Through this risk-level mapping, it is easier for us to focus on hotspots for drug abuse and enable us to carry out programmes or operations individually or in an integrated manner.

What are the efforts done by the government to address drug and substance abuse especially among school students?

The Ministry has set up a One-Stop Committee for Handling of Drugs and Substance (OSC MIDS) in collaboration with the police, Health Department, National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK), Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Education Department and other parties.

Sarawak also has rehabilitation institutions to provide treatment, recovery and rehabilitation such as the Narcotic Addiction Rehabilitation Centre (Puspen) in Puncak Borneo with a capacity of 250 clients.

The state Health Department has set up two facilities termed One-stop Centre for Addiction (OSCA) at Klinik Kesihatan Tudan (Miri) and Klinik Kesihatan Petra Jaya (Kuching). OSCA is a one-stop facility to address drugs and substances abuse and abuse disorders within the community to reduce stigmatisation.

Besides that, there are six private non-governmental organisation (NGO) recovery centres in the state.

Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah. Photo: Mohd Alif Noni

We took note that students are targeted by drug suppliers because for them, the students are ‘easy money’ and potential buyers in the long term. Through our collaboration with the Education Department, we can monitor the students and provide them with counselling.

Efforts are ongoing in setting up a safe haven for the homeless.

Where are these centres and what other assistance is the ministry going to provide for them?

The Ministry is planning to set up a centre that acts as a shelter for the homeless to rest, clean themselves and sleep at night.

The first homeless transit place (TTG) will be at Jalan Sanyan in Sibu which is currently under construction and scheduled for completion in August this year. We will set up a car wash area next to the building to provide jobs for some of the homeless.

Another transit place for the homeless will be set up under the soon-to-be established Borneo Best Community Social Support Centre (BBCSSC) at Jalan Abell, Padungan here. The centre is expected to be completed by end of this year while operations will start early next year.

At the transit place, we will provide integrated social intervention referral services and help the homeless join recovery programme, learning skills and learn to be independent.

Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah. Photo: Mohd Alif Noni

Is there a different approach in assisting certain homeless who are usually associated with having a mental problem or involved in drug abuse?

The biggest challenge in assisting the homeless is among those who are on drugs or have a mental problem. Therefore, when we conduct integrated operations on rescuing the homeless, we would have them undergo urine tests to see if they are on drugs or not. Those with a mental problem will be referred to Sentosa Hospital for further treatment. For those who are involved in drugs, we will cooperate with the AADK for the recovery programme.

The ministry has rescued 237 homeless people in 83 operations conducted statewide throughout last year. Of these, 194 or 82 percent were male while the remaining 43 cases or 18 percent were female.

Kuching Division recorded the highest number with 90 cases, followed by Bintulu (43), Sibu (41), Miri (21), Sri Aman (18), Sarikei (nine), Limbang (seven) while Kapit, Serian, Betong and Mukah recorded two cases each.

The state government through KWKPK has introduced a lot of initiatives to benefit Sarawakians. Can you elaborate on the progress so far?

My ministry is committed to ensuring the wellbeing of fellow Sarawakians by assisting with various initiatives to cater to the different target group. These are:

i) Endowment Fund Sarawak (EFS)

Every Sarawakian newborn is entitled to RM1,000 which is credited into his/her bank account and can only be withdrawn at the age of 18. As of Feb 21, a total of 3,170 out of 3,796 Sarawakian newborn babies (84 percent) have registered for EFS.

ii) Bantuan Ibu Bersalin (BIB)/Post natal care assistance

Every pregnant mother, who is either a Sarawakian or wife to the ‘K’ status holder, is entitled to a one-off financial aid worth RM450 to assist her after giving birth. As of Feb 21, a total of 3,538 out of 3,846 mothers (92 percent) have registered for BIB.

iii) Special Annual Grant (GTK) for early childhood institution (ECI)

Every registered ECI is eligible for a RM5,000 grant while registered taska (nurseries) is entitled to a RM2,500 grant. The GTK can be used to provide free nutritious and balanced meals for children, fun learning, continuous professional development for teachers and activities involving parents. It can also be used to cover expenses for minor repair and procurement of furniture/electrical appliances.

iv) Kenyalang Gold Card (KGC)

Every Sarawakian senior citizen aged 60 years and above is entitled to apply for KGC which aims to provide discounts, rebates or waiver on fees for goods and services offered by the ministry’s strategic partners. As of Feb 21, a total of 544 applications were received.

v) Death Compassionate Aid (BIK)

The BIK aid worth RM3,000 is provided to the next-of-kin of KGC holders, to help ease the family’s burden concerning transporting the body as well as burial costs. As of Feb 21, a total of 2,420 applications were approved involving payment amounting to RM7.26 million.

vi) Bantuan Pesakit Buah Pinggang (BPBP)/ Special aid for kidney patients.

This aid is given to Sarawakian kidney patients from the B40 and M40 groups to cover treatment and support assistance.

As of Feb 21, 13 applications were approved.

What about the monthly welfare aid?

Under the 2021 federal budget, the financial assistance for older persons, carers of bedridden OKU and the chronically ill patient is increased from RM350 to RM500. Meanwhile, the financial assistance for persons with disabilities (OKU) who are incapable of work is increased from RM250 to RM300. The incentive allowance for disabled workers has also been increased from RM400 to RM450.

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