KUCHING: Besides disseminating information to the public, Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) also plays an important role in the lives of the disadvantaged, says Datuk Fatimah Abdullah.
The Welfare, Community, Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister added that RTM could be the facilitator in bringing together departments and agencies to carry out welfare work.
“The role of RTM in contributing to the wellbeing of the people in Sarawak is very important besides its core function, that is to broadcast information,” she said when officiating at the ‘RTM Cakna Komuniti’ programme in conjunction with RTM’s 75th anniversary, which was broadcast live on Facebook on Tuesday (March 30).
Fatimah congratulated RTM for successfully gathering all departments, agencies and donors where assistance would be channelled to the needy and various non-governmental organisations.
“This is a very sincere effort by RTM, and we at the ministry also stressed that welfare is the responsibility of all.”
Fatimah, who is also Dalat assemblywoman, said RTM played a crucial role in broadcasting information about the various assistance provided by government agencies or other bodies.
“The Sarawak government, for instance, provides all sorts of assistance – from newborn to death. In addition to this, assistance for nurseries, kindergartens, single parents, people with disabilities and many more.
“We do not want our people to be left out, especially the orphanages and needy children because they are the future leaders of the country.”
She hoped that RTM and the ministry, particularly the Sarawak Welfare Department, could collaborate on the ‘RTM Cakna Komuniti’ programme for the whole of April so that more needy could be given help.
“Through such collaboration, we can also spread the assistance available to the whole of Sarawak.”
Later, Fatimah presented senior citizen assistance worth RM500 to three recipients, Bantuan Penerimaan Kanak-Kanak of RM1,000 to two recipients, carers of people with disabilities and chronically ill patients of RM500 to one recipient, RM1,000 Endowment Fund Sarawak to three recipients, and post natal care assistance worth RM450 to three recipients.
She also witnessed the presentation of 75 boxes each of face masks, hand sanitiser as well as four hampers to the Sarawak Society for the Blind, donated by Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, while face masks and personal donations for Kampung Siol Kandis residents were also given by Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Youth chief Gerald Rentap Jabu.
Besides that, Sarawak Energy Berhad donated a wheelchair, while Islamic Da’wah Foundation of Malaysia donated food baskets to the needy.
Also present were Sarawak United People’s Party Women chief Kho Teck Wan and Social Welfare Department director Noriah Ahmad.
