BUKIT MERTAJAM, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) has allocated about RM1 million this year to assist women facing financial difficulties, including victims of domestic violence who need to leave their partners and take their children with them.
Its Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the initiative was part of efforts to strengthen protection and assistance for victims, covering financial aid, legal services, early intervention and temporary shelter through cooperation with non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
“KPWKM is also stepping up awareness programmes to help women identify forms of abuse, understand their legal rights, and obtain protection and assistance to leave unsafe home environments,” she told reporters after officiating the Road to Eliminate Violence Against Women (EVAW) programme in conjunction with Penang-level Eliminate Violence Against Women programme here today. here today.
Also present were Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Lim Hui Ying and Department of Women’s Development director-general Hanani Sapit.
Nancy said the financial assistance initiative was introduced this year, and expressed hope that its implementation could be strengthened next year to ensure that more women in need received appropriate assistance.
Elaborating further, Nancy said KPWKM also provided transit homes in every state to accommodate victims temporarily, with the facilities made available through cooperation with NGOs.
“Victims can obtain information and assistance through the Women’s Development offices in each state, enabling them to access appropriate support services and referrals, including information on legal matters.
She said KPWKM also provided counselling, psychosocial support and referrals to relevant agencies to help victims obtain protection according to their needs.
On the implementation of the National Integrated Care Centres of Excellence (NICE), announced in Budget 2027, Nancy described it as an effort to strengthen the country’s care economy, including by providing more structured care services for older persons.
However, she said details of the centre’s implementation in Penang and Sarawak were still under discussion, including infrastructure requirements.
“KPWKM will review the plans and hold discussions with the governments of both states following the announcement of the allocation for the initiative in Budget 2027,” she said.
Nancy, who welcomed the initiative, said the allocation supported plans to strengthen the elderly care sector nationwide in the future, although the initial implementation would involve only two states.
She said the initiative would enable KPWKM to proceed with its planning for elderly care, while all aspects, particularly infrastructure requirements, needed to be examined, as most care services were currently provided by the private sector, including NGOs.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also Finance Minister, announced during the tabling of Budget 2027 that two NICE centres would be established in Penang and Sarawak to provide training, conduct research and deliver elderly care services as part of efforts to prepare the country for aged nation status.
-- BERNAMA