KUCHING: Minister of the newly-created Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah says her immediate task is to improve the delivery system in the welfare unit.
She said that access to welfare scheme, collaboration with other government agencies and private sector as well as ‘productive welfare’ would be the first few things she would have to deal with when the new ministry takes effect today.
“In welfare, there are few areas I believe could be given ‘new breath’. The first one is about access to welfare (assistance). I feel it should be a Key Focus Area of the ministry so that more needy people could get government assistance,” she said.
Speaking to reporters after the launching of Chief Minister’s Department’s Innovation and Integrity Day 2011 at the old State Legislative Assembly complex here yesterday, she said limited fund for welfare had prompted her to look into possible collaboration with other parties.
She said such collaboration was vital to maximise the existing resources and to ensure no duplication of assistance.
“For instance, if a child has received financial assistance from a ministry then we will help him in other aspects,” she said
On assistance to children of sheltered homes, Fatimah said the government had the responsibility to ensure that their future was guaranteed after they left the homes.
She said that providing these children with education opportunity would be of great importance.
“Social Welfare Department has a good team. But, we have to realise that the workforce is limited. Therefore, we must work as a team with the stakeholders as well as community leaders at the grassroots level in order to achieve our objectives faster,” she said.