AMONG the success stories arising from the temporary transit centre (TTG) Sibu is that of Ani Mail who has now been appointed as a weaving instructor to her fellow residents.
Minister of Women, Early Childhood, and Community Well-being Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the 56-year-old’s handicrafts are being marketed at 12 Petronas fuel stations there.
“Who would ever think about teaching the homeless basic literacy and numeracy skills or teaching them living skills such as weaving, hydroponic gardening and fish rearing? But this is exactly what we did at TTG Sibu, and it is to prepare the homeless for integration into the community.
“Apart from economic empowerment, TTG Sibu residents are also trained in reading, writing, and arithmetic skills in collaboration with the Sarawak State Library which is running the adult literacy programme with the help of Methodist Pilley Institute and Laila Taib College,” she said.
She said this in her ministerial winding-up speech during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting on today (May 23).
Since it became fully operational in February last year, Fatimah said 87 homeless persons of whom 75 per cent are males and 25 per cent females have used the TTG services.
She said of this, nine persons have found jobs, three have been placed at Rumah Seri Kenangan (RSK) Sibu and Kuching, 15 are still undergoing income generating skills training, 12 have returned to their respective families and the rest voluntarily left the TTG.
“To deal with the homeless issues in other parts of Sarawak, we are pleased to inform that TTG Miri is in the process of building renovation by the Miri City Council (MCC), and it is expected to be completed in December this year.
“Meanwhile, the TTG Bintulu is in the building construction process by the Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) and it is expected to be completed in May 2025,” she said.
