Work together to tackle poverty, minister tells Oya community leaders, residents

OYA (March 28): Community leaders and residents here have been urged to continue working together to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods.

Sarawak Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah noted that the number of households classified as poor has declined significantly following state interventions.

“For Kampung Kuala Hilir Oya, the number of poor households has dropped from 20 to 15, while in Kampung Boom, it decreased from 25 to 22.

“In Kampung Kuala Tengah, the figure fell from 29 to 21,” she said during an Aidilfitri gathering organised by tKampung Boom Security and Development Committee (JKKK) here yesterday.

Fatimah also encouraged eligible residents to seek support through monthly assistance programmes from the Social Welfare Department and Baitulmal.

She highlighted government initiatives such as the SKAS food aid scheme, launched on March 7, which provides assistance to households earning RM5,000 and below.

“This programme has increased its aid rate to RM950 per household, paid in three stages,” she said.

On development matters, Fatimah assured villagers that Kampung Boom would not be left behind.

She outlined recent allocations for community projects, including RM25,000 for MRP activities and RM15,000 to relocate fishermen’s landing sites for the construction of the Oya Waterfront Phase 2 and Melanau Heritage Gallery.

The event concluded with Fatimah presenting the Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) approval letter to Kampung Boom JKKK for a new street lighting project at Kampung Baru Oya, from the main entrance to the new settlement area, with a total allocation of RM100,000.