Fatimah speaking at the press conference yesterday. Also seen is Umadi (left).
KUCHING: Couples wishing to adopt a child are encouraged to foster children (anak bela) who are aged 10-years-old and above for a period of two years before changing the children’s status to adopted child (anak angkat).
Speaking to reporters during a press conference held at her office at the Baitulmakmur Building yesterday, Minister of Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said the reason why couples should do so is so they can adjust to living with their foster children, especially those who are aged 10 years-old and above.
There were recent reports in the media regarding children aged 10-years-old and above who could not find adopted families and Fatimah wants parents who are looking for children to consider these older children for adoption.
Fatimah said she was saddened that such cases exist.
“Children who are aged 10 years and above, for example, already have their own characters and this makes it difficult for parents to reshape the character of the child they adopted. This is the very reason why many couples who want to apply for adoption opt to adopt children as young as possible as it will be easier for them (children) to be raised,” she added.
She also said that the Community Welfare Department has two children’s homes, namely the Toh Puan Hajah Norkiah Children’s Home in Kuching and the Datuk Ajibah Abol Children’s Home in Sri Aman.
Toh Puan Hajah Norkiah Children’s Home currently has 94 children while Datuk Ajibah Abol Children’s Home has 19 children.
Despite the two homes having many children under their care, only five children from the two homes were listed by the Community Welfare Department as available for adoption or taken as foster children.
Applications for adoption may be made through the department and priority will be given to couples who have been married for a long time and have a slim chance of getting their own children.
Also present during the press conference were Community Welfare Department social welfare officer Mordiah Sulaiman and child welfare branch head Umadi Polot.