SIBU: The federal government has been urged to hasten the passing of the Social Workers Profession Act that was drafted in 2012 but still pending approval in parliament.
In making the call, Methodist Pilley Institute (MPI) chief executive officer Hii King Kai said the Act would elevate the status of individuals who run the nation’s many social welfare programmes.
“This will allow them to be seen as professionals thus making the management of social work in Malaysia more efficient,” he said at the 30th Graduation Ceremony at MPI’s Wei Kuok Hall here Saturday (Sept 2).
Hii also urged the state government to simplify and hasten the verification and approval of stateless-status Sarawakians who are born and raised in Sarawak.
He said MPI’s two graduates from the Diploma in Social Work, namely, Hesty Linggi and Lili Rudy who were born and raised Sarawakians do not have the blue Identity Card, thus they cannot open a bank account, apply for a passport, or even register a post-paid phone service.
“Hasty and Lily who are from Long Singgut in Ulu Kapit, have created history today for MPI as the very first two students who graduated from the Diploma in Social Work.
“They are also the fruits of collaboration between MPI and the Catholic Church which co-sponsored their studies here in MPI.
“To make a country strong, we need more people, as proven by ancient history of the Qin Dynasty, and more recently, the United States of America,” he said.
Meanwhile, to the graduands, Hii attributed their success to the sacrifices made by their parents, their siblings and their loved ones.
“They could have used the money and resources that they spent on your education on something else (maybe a better car, a bigger house, their dream vacations, their hobbies, etc.). But instead, they invested in you.
“Maybe you can rightfully assume it is their duty and responsibility to take care of you. But I can tell you, as a parent who has two sons in university, l know how challenging it is to have the money ready every semester.
“And for some of you, you had to pay your own way to earn the education. You had to take up loans, you had to work part-time or even full-time. It is exactly for such reasons, the Methodist Church, the Board of Directors, the staff and lecturers at MPI strive to do our best to provide you the best we can.
“Because we know you had sacrificed so much to be here. Because we know you and your family had put your trust in us to give you the keys to a better future,” he asserted.
He said over the last four years, MPI has given out almost RM2 million in scholarships, scholastic awards, loans and bursaries of various forms, ranging from 10 to 100 per cent.
In addition, he said the MPI Education Fund that the Board of Directors set up last year with contributions from generous donors is a need-based assistance to provide assistance to those who are financially needy.
He said within one year, the fund has given over 30 students the chance to pursue tertiary education at MPI, amounting to almost RM400,000.
Hii said many of these recipients are the first in their family to have the opportunity to go for tertiary education.
For MPI to be able to offer such financial aid, we want to thank existing donors for their generosity and various churches for their contributions, he said.
At the ceremony, a total of 143 students were conferred with diplomas in various disciplines such as Accounting, Taxation, Business Management, Business Information Systems, Computer Science, Mobile Computing, Early Childhood Education and Social Work.
A total of 69 other students were conferred with degree certificates in Accounting, Finance and Investment, Marketing and Early Childhood Education.
MPI’s honorary chairman Hii Ching Chiong and vice chairman Dr Peter Tang Ing Bing were among those present.
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