KUCHING: The Sarawak Government continues to address poverty through an integrated and empowerment-based approach involving multiple ministries and agencies, with a focus on sustainable income growth and improved living conditions for vulnerable groups.

The Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Sarawak, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, said poverty is a complex issue that cannot be resolved by a single ministry, as it is influenced by various socio-economic factors including income, employment, housing and access to infrastructure.

Speaking to the media during the opening of the Aroma Lab ceremony at Metrocity, Matang on Wednesday, she said the state government’s efforts in expanding road and bridge networks across Sarawak play an important role in opening up economic opportunities, particularly in rural areas.

She explained that improved infrastructure enables communities to participate more actively in economic activities, thereby supporting income generation and long-term poverty reduction.

Under her ministry, she said assistance is provided to households below the poverty line through various monthly welfare schemes, particularly for families with children, while additional programmes are implemented to empower recipients to increase household income sustainably.

“We believe in empowering our people. The assistance we provide is not only to help them survive, but to help them increase their income and eventually move out of the poverty line,” she said.

Dato Sri Fatimah said among the initiatives implemented is the provision of grants of up to RM5,000 to welfare recipients to support small-scale income-generating activities, particularly through the purchase of equipment, adding that the programme has shown positive results and will be continued in 2026.

She also highlighted assistance provided to women-led households, including one-off grants to help female heads of households start small businesses, with further financial support available to expand operations if initial efforts prove successful.

In addition, she said programmes under the Ministry of Social Development target underprivileged groups, including former inmates and individuals recovering from substance abuse, by providing grants to support small enterprises and facilitate social reintegration.

She added that housing remains an important component of poverty alleviation, with rental subsidies and coordinated support involving local authorities helping vulnerable individuals and families secure decent living conditions.

Dato Sri Fatimah said the state government continues to refine and verify poverty data through collaboration with community leaders and relevant agencies to ensure assistance is channelled to those who genuinely require support.

She stressed that Sarawak’s approach prioritises long-term sustainability over short-term charity, with inter-agency collaboration playing a key role in matching assistance to the specific needs of individuals and families. -UKASnews

Reporter: Alezxandria Kapple
Photographer: Alezxandria Kapple & Hisyam Arif