Rep: Rising costs placing disproportionate pressure on women, families in Inanam

KOTA KINABALU (Dec 16): The Sabah government has been called on to place greater focus on women’s welfare and housing issues in Inanam as the rising cost of living is placing disproportionate pressure on women and families in the constituency.

When debating the State Budget 2026 during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting on Monday, Edna Majimbun (Warisan-Inanam) drew attention to Inanam and nearby areas, including settlements in Mukim Manggatal, Mukim Inanam, and Mukim Kolombong.

“Today, I am debating issues of social welfare and the cost of living with specific focus on women and housing, because these are realities of life and basic necessities for the people in my area,” she said.

“In almost every family, women play the main role as financial managers of the household and are often the ones who make sacrifices. When the cost of living rises, women become the first buffer to this pressure by cutting their own expenses, postponing healthcare, and suppressing personal needs to ensure that the family’s necessities are met.”

Edna noted that the sacrifices of women are rarely captured in official statistics and are often overlooked in policy planning.

According to her, single mothers in Inanam have complained that despite being eligible for assistance on paper, they have faced difficulties due to complicated application procedures and user-unfriendly digital systems.

She claimed that elderly women were being left out of welfare systems due to lack of information and dependence on others.

“There are also low-income working women who are squeezed by housing rental costs, transportation expenses and childcare costs at the same time, yet they do not qualify for assistance because they do not meet existing criteria,” she said.

Beyond welfare, Edna said housing remained a major contributor to cost of living pressures in Inanam, where rental rates continue to rise while the supply of affordable housing remains insufficient.

“For women, a home is not merely a place to stay. It is a place of protection, safety, and the foundation of a family’s emotional stability. Without stable and safe housing, especially for single mothers, emotional stress and uncertainty about the family’s future become even heavier,” she said.

Edna also stressed that basic physical development, such as roads and digital infrastructure, is directly linked to the daily lives of residents, particularly women.

She pointed out that poor road conditions and limited internet access in Inanam and surrounding areas increased transportation costs, compromised safety, and made it harder for women to work, bring their children to school, and access essential services.

She cited road upgrading needs along routes such as Kampung Pinahawon to Ruminding, Kampung Tolungan, Kampung Pengesaan, and Kampung Kiukad Kionsom, saying these were not merely development issues but basic necessities for the people.

“Damaged and unsafe roads increase vehicle costs, lengthen travel time, and heighten safety risks for women and children. With proper road upgrades, villagers can increase household income by more easily bringing agricultural produce to nearby markets,” she said.

Edna also highlighted the need for stable internet access through the construction of rural internet towers, noting that poor connectivity hinders women from accessing information, applying for welfare assistance online, managing their children’s education, and running small home-based businesses.

“In a small kitchen in Inanam, a mother counts her money before going to the market, not to choose the best, but to make sure it lasts until the weekend. In a cramped rented room, a single mother wonders whether this month’s salary can cover rent, bills, and her child’s milk. They are not asking for luxury, but only for fair policies, functioning systems and timely assistance,” she said.

“If this Budget fails to address their anxieties, then we have failed to listen to the voices of women who are the backbone of families and society.”

Edna further emphasised that people’s welfare should not be compromised by political differences, stressing that cost of living, welfare, and housing are basic issues affecting all citizens.

“State Budget allocations must be channelled fairly, inclusively, and based on needs, so that every elected representative, including those in areas like Inanam, has the capacity to implement effective welfare programmes and community support,” she said.

She added that a good budget should not be judged solely by the size of allocations announced, but by its real impact on people’s daily lives.

“If women continue to bear the burden of rising living costs without effective policy support, then family well-being and social stability in this state will continue to be affected,” she said.

Edna said she hoped the State Budget would truly serve as a tool to protect women, strengthen family institutions, and secure the future of the people of Inanam and Sabah as a whole, calling for all approved allocations to be implemented transparently, effectively, and with integrity.