Azizah: Over RM11m financial aid for single mothers

KOTA KINABALU: A total of RM11, 261,065 in aid was distributed to single mothers throughout the state last year said Minister of Community Development and Consumer Affairs, Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun.
She said the assistance was channeled through the Sabah Department of Social Services to help ease their financial burden.
“However, we do not want single mothers to rely on government aid alone. We want them to make an effort to improve their standard of living.
“That is why the government has implemented various measures to help improve their livelihood and these include programmes on self-motivation, skill training courses as well as grants for those who are starting up a business,” she said.
Azizah was speaking when opening the Consumer Program: Budget 2013 and the Implementation of Minimum Wage at Wisma Wanita, here, yesterday.
Also present were the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Datuk Asnimar Sukardi, Sabah Women’s Advisory Council chairperson, Datuk Hajah Mariati Robert and director of the Sabah Women’s Affairs Department, Datuk Siti Sapoo Ahok.
Azizah said the Sabah Women’s Affairs Department, Department of Social Welfare Services and the Sabah State Library also operated programmes such as Azam Kerja and Azam Niaga.
A total of 522 participants have taken part in Azam Niaga through the Sabah Women’s Affairs Department with 318 of them already declassified from the hardcore poor category.
“The participants now have their own source of income and do not have to rely on government assistance alone.
“This shows the commitment of the ministry to make sure that women in this state fully benefit from the initiatives introduced by the government,” she said.
Azizah said last year, the Sabah Women’s Affairs Department spent 97.60 per cent or RM585,624 of the RM600,000 allocated for the development of women in the state.
The federal government also allocated RM1.2 billion to the Permata Programme to provide pre-school education.
There are 13 Permata Centres in Sabah that are either operating, completed or under construction.
Three are already operating in Tuaran, Beaufort and Kota Belud. Two have been completed in Papar and Matunggong. Eight are under construction in Ranau, Penampang, Kudat, Kimanis, Kota Kinabalu, Putatan, Sandakan and Batu Sapi.
Families living in the rural areas with a household income of RM1,500 or less a month and urban families with a montly household income of RM2,500 and below can send their children to the Permata Centres for free.