Nancy urges parents to monitor children amid heatwave

KUCHING (April 5): Parents have been urged to closely monitor their children, especially the young ones, amid the current hot weather to ensure their wellbeing is not affected.

Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri made the call, cautioning that the ongoing heatwave poses an added challenge for parents should their children fall ill due to the weather conditions.

“Parents must play their role in ensuring their children remain in good condition and are well cared for.

“We also remind parents to ensure their children understand the current weather situation and are given proper explanation and advice. This is not something we can take lightly,” she said after attending Bank Rakyat’s Riang Ria Syawal event at the state library here on Sunday.

Nancy added that the Ministry of Education has allowed students attending school to wear sports attire and to ensure they bring sufficient water.

She also said childcare centres have been reminded to keep children under their care in sheltered areas and to avoid outdoor activities during the hot weather.

In addition, she noted that her ministry, through the Social Welfare Department, remains on standby by mobilising approximately 4,785 personnel nationwide to respond to any eventualities arising from the current weather conditions.

On the event, which was officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof, Nancy received zakat contributions (obligatory alms-giving) from Bank Rakyat to be distributed to the underprivileged in her constituency.

“The collaboration between the ministry and Bank Rakyat is carried out every Ramadan as an effort to assist those in need.

“Each year, we identify recipients across three State Legislative Assembly (DUN) areas, with an allocation of RM10,000 for each area, bringing the total to RM30,000,” she explained.