MUKAH: The Sarawak government welcomes the formation of non-governmental organisations (NGO) because the latter complements the work done by the former.
Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said an NGO was formed with certain noble objectives.
She added that in trying to achieve these objectives, the NGO also required funding to run and organise activities.
“The government recognises the role and contribution made by NGOs and we try to assist them in whatever way we can.
“Good NGOs can complement the work done by the government such as those related to social issues,” she said when officiating a workshop to empower Sarawak NGOs at a hotel here yesterday.
According to her, there were a lot that NGOs could do to complement the government’s efforts.
For example, she said, as the number of autistic children had been reported to be increasing, this group needed help and hopefully, NGOs could assist them.
The Dalat assemblywoman added that as for NGOs like Dalat Sago Smallholders Association, it could help members look after their interests as each NGO had its own objectives.
“The government would work together with NGOs for the betterment and wellbeing of people.”
Fatimah hoped that after the two-day workshop, participants would be able to come up with relevant proposals with specific objectives and reasonable costs.
The workshop was one of the seven series organised by the ministry with the first held in Kuching on Oct 26-27 and the last one in Limbang scheduled for Dec 21-22.
Ministry of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development permanent secretary Dr Saadiah Abdul Samat, workshop consultant Dunstan Chan and Temenggong Hendi Suhai also attended the event.
