Sarawak to implement monthly outreach to ensure social services reach rural communities from January

KUCHING (Dec 6): Sarawak will implement a monthly outreach programme starting January next year to ensure government social services reach all communities, including those in rural and remote areas, said Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah.

The State Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister said the initiative, led by the Sarawak Social Welfare Department, aims to enhance access to social services, legal aid, community intervention and family support.

“We want residents in rural areas to receive the same services as those in urban centres,” she said when officiating the 2025 Family Day celebration here.

Fatimah stressed that the programme is particularly crucial for vulnerable groups such as senior citizens, women, children and victims of domestic violence who require timely assistance.

“We want every Sarawakian to feel that they are cared for by the government. No one should feel left behind,” she said.

On early education, Fatimah highlighted Sarawak’s strong performance in early childhood education, noting that 98.46 per cent of children entering Year One this year had attended preschool or kindergarten — among the highest rates in the country.

She said the state aims to achieve 100 per cent access by 2030 to ensure that all children, including those in remote areas, receive quality early education.

This includes the continued expansion of kindergartens in rural communities.

Addressing preparations for the upcoming monsoon season, Fatimah noted that flooding is anticipated and said Sarawak has strengthened its disaster-response measures.

These include a major supply depot in Samarahan, four smaller depots, and 24 forward bases located in flood-prone areas to ensure essential supplies can reach affected communities when roads are cut off.

“When floods occur, connections are cut off. So we provide forward bases to ensure that even those in remote and difficult-to-reach areas can access essential supplies,” she said.

She added that relief centres will also register evacuees to help authorities track and assist affected families effectively.