KUCHING: Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem should come up with a clear agenda that will empower women and children in the state.
Wanita PKR national vice chief Voon Shiak Ni, who suggested this in a statement, said there was no such clear agenda even though Adenan had been in office for 100 days.
“In the past 100 days, no doubt he has tried to be bold and to be different in his approach to strengthen his influence and power as the new chief minister. He had tried to mediate the then existing political bickering among BN component parties and had also tried to be more friendly and approachable to the Opposition.
“We applaud his earnest efforts positively in trying to stabilise the political scenario in Sarawak.
“However, as an observer in the aspect of welfare of the society, we are still waiting for his agenda for women and children in the state.”
Voon cited examples of social crises such as baby dumping and teenage pregnancies as worrying social issues.
“What has our state government in mind to combat these social crises? Create more awareness campaigns or introduce sex education in schools?
“The number of teenage pregnancies is on the rise in Sarawak over the last two years and there has been an increase of unwed and underaged pregnancies registered in a few major hospitals in the state, as revealed by Datuk Fatimah and her ministry.
“We hope Adenan, in the next 100 days, will produce an agenda that empowers our state women ministry and the women NGOs to combat these serious social crises.
On sexual abuse issues, Voon said Sarawakians were still waiting for the state government to step in on the allegations of rape and abuse of Penan girls and women in the interior of Sarawak by timber loggers.
“We have waited six long years for justice to be seen, but no light has been shed by the state government on the issue, so far.”
On schools in the rural areas, Voon lamented that many of them were dilapidated and in need of repair.
“We have been given to understand that even though there has been funds allocated for the education sector, but funds for repairing and rebuilding of the many dilapidated schools are not clearly specified.
“It would be a relief to many Sarawakians if Adenan can step in to get added funds and assistance for the upgrading of the many dilapidated schools in the interior of Sarawak. We believe that only when the basic needs and welfare of the society and the people are looked after properly will political stability comes along.”