Sabah Committed to Strengthening the People’s Well-being Agenda

Hajiji officiating in the Kembara Kasih

16 May 2025

TUARAN : The State Government remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that the people of Sabah are not left behind in the nation’s social development.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor emphasised that the well-being of the people continues to be the primary agenda of the state administration.

He said the State Government has allocated RM162.42 million this year to the Ministry of Community Development and People’s Well-being Sabah and its agencies to implement various social programmes that directly benefit the people.

“This year, the government has channelled RM76.29 million to assist persons with disabilities (OKU), senior citizens, single mothers, children, and orphans through various targeted aid schemes.

“Additionally, RM956,000 has also been allocated for people’s well-being programmes covering aspects such as family, consumer awareness, women’s development, and healthy lifestyle initiatives,” he said when officiating the Kembara Kasih Programme by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) 2025 and the launch of the Sabah Mobile One-Stop Social Support Centre (PSSS) at Astaka Padang Tuaran on Friday.

He further stated that RM550,000 has been allocated to the Malaysian Drug Prevention Association (PEMADAM) Sabah to support efforts in curbing drug abuse, particularly among school students.

Hajiji also expressed his appreciation to the Federal Government, particularly the KPWKM, for providing various forms of aid and services to the people of Sabah.

He noted that this included RM300,000 in disaster relief from the National Welfare Foundation (YKN) for the 2025 Sabah Flood Assistance, and RM2.1 million allocated to support 384 Temporary Evacuation Centres (PPS) during flooding incidents across the state.

According to him, a total of RM330 million under the 2025 Federal Financial Assistance Programme has been allocated for Sabah, with RM315 million distributed to 45,572 aid recipients under the Department of Social Welfare (JKM).

“This effort reflects the Federal Government’s serious commitment to the well-being of the people of Sabah and its willingness to continue strengthening the social safety net for the benefit of the people,” he said.

Touching on the launch of the mobile PSSS unit, Hajiji described the initiative as a timely response to the worsening national mental health crisis, particularly in the post-COVID-19 era.

He referred to a report by the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) which revealed that over five million Malaysians are affected by issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress, with a notable increase in suicide cases.

“This mobile PSSS unit is expected to reach rural communities and provide much-needed psychosocial support, including for those affected by divorce, abuse, unemployment, and financial hardship,” he said.

He also called on all citizens, especially those in the areas covered by the Kembara Kasih KPWKM 2025 route, to attend and take full advantage of the wide range of services offered throughout the programme.

The Kembara Kasih KPWKM 2025 programme covers two main zones in Sabah: Tuaran, Papar, and Penampang (Zone 1), and Lahad Datu, Kunak, and Tawau (Zone 2). It brings together various government agencies working on the ground to provide comprehensive welfare services directly to the people.

Hajiji expressed hope that such programmes would continue and be expanded to other areas in the future as part of efforts to further strengthen the well-being of the people.