Sarawak enhances women empowerment through targeted assistance programmes

KUCHING (March 11): The Sarawak Ministry of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development (KPWK) has presented various forms of assistance aimed at supporting women in the state and strengthening their socio-economic well-being.

Its minister, Datuk Sri Fatimah Abdullah, said the initiatives include Bantuan Ibu Bersalin (post-natal assistance), Endowment Fund Sarawak, Bantuan Perubatan (medical assistance), Female Head of Household Assistance (KIRWaS), and the Sarawak Women’s Empowerment Capital Grant (GMPWS).

“These initiatives reflect the state government’s continuous efforts to enhance the socioeconomic status of women across Sarawak,” she said when speaking at the KPWK Townhall Programme here.

Fatimah expressed hope that the assistance provided would be used in the best possible way by the recipients.

She added that the townhall programme serves as an important platform to share information on initiatives and assistance provided by the ministry and its agencies, including the Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKMS) and the Sarawak Women and Family Department (JWKS).

“This is in line with the ministry’s aspiration to enhance communication and staff engagement in promoting these initiatives and assistance more effectively,” she said.

Fatimah also noted that the month of Ramadan serves as a reminder of the values of compassion, empathy and mutual assistance.

She stressed that the ministry remains committed to ensuring that every policy, programme and assistance initiative implemented truly benefits the people.

According to her, the ministry will continue to adopt a more inclusive and proactive approach through outreach programmes and collaboration with relevant agencies and field visits to ensure rural communities are not left behind in receiving information and government assistance.

These efforts, she added, are also aligned with initiatives to enhance digital service delivery as part of Sarawak’s broader digital transformation agenda.

Fatimah also said the ministry will be directly involved in the SarawakKu Sayang Programme Series, which will run from April to November this year, beginning in the Limbang division and concluding in the Kuching division.

Among the recipients of the assistance were Nurkahirunnisa Drahman, Alicia Baru, Daphne Ting, Debbie Edwin, Chong Sen, Fahim Fathrurrahman, and Suraya Mat Said, while Gwendalyn Hazel Veno received the capital grant.