More than 1,300 street children rescued since 2007, says Azizah

KOTA KINABALU: Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun disclosed that a total of 1,392 street children had been rescued since 2007 to May this year.
However, she said, most of them have been released and only 65 children are still at the Kota Kinabalu Children Protection Home.
“My ministry, through the Sabah Welfare Services Department is not involved with the training for job placement of the street children. The department is only involved in providing services from the welfare aspect of street children, in addition to providing basic education such as 3M learning classes, religious and moral education classes, self-management, exercise and overall development of children,” she said.
Azizah said this when replying to Kiulu Assemblyman Datuk Louis Rampas during the question and answer session at the State Legislative Assembly sitting.
Meanwhile, Assistant Minister of Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister, Datuk Herbert Timbun Lagadan said, so far, a total of 2,350 people have been appointed as Price Monitoring Volunteers or Consumer Squad in the state.
“The target for Consumer Squad throughout Sabah is about 5,000. They will be given training on consumer awareness as well as to have an understanding of the eight consumer rights and responsibilities.
“The function of the Consumer Squad is to act as an observer and report to the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs (Ministry) on the current price trend,” he said, when replying to Gum-Gum Assemblyman Datuk Zakaria Mohd Idris.
Herbert said the team would also report any offences or wrongdoings committed against the Act or regulations under the ministry.
”Consumer Squads do not have the authority to take any action on any offence committed by the dealer but they will be the eyes and ears of the government through the ministry,” Herbert said.