KUCHING: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has proposed more than RM168 million in additional funding under the upcoming national Budget to strengthen assistance for its target groups.
Minister, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, said the proposal had been submitted following discussions with the Ministry of Finance, but stressed that the additional allocation had yet to be approved.
“The additional amount we have proposed is more than RM168 million,” she told reporters at a press conference after officiating the Engagement Session on the Development of National Care Standards for Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) here today (Aug 24).
She said the ministry would only know whether its proposals had been accepted when the Budget is tabled on Oct 9.
“These are only proposals. We can propose what we believe is necessary, but we will only know the outcome when the Budget is announced,” she said.
Nancy said the proposals centre on five priority areas, namely caregiving, women, domestic violence, family and the elderly.
She added that the ministry’s priority remained programmes that directly benefit its target groups, particularly those requiring welfare and socioeconomic support.
“Our proposals are focused more on helping our target groups.
“They are not glamorous programmes. They are more about welfare and improving the economic position of the groups we serve,” she said.
Nancy said the Social Welfare Department (JKM) remained among the ministry’s main priorities, with additional requirements proposed to strengthen assistance for welfare recipients.
Additionally, she said the overall expenditure under the ministry involved billions of ringgit as existing welfare assistance alone accounted for a substantial portion of its allocation.
“The proposed additional allocation is intended to accommodate new initiatives and additional needs beyond existing assistance.
“Among the areas for which further support has been proposed are caregivers, women, families, and senior citizens,” she added.
Nancy said the ministry had also included measures to assist women, including those dealing with divorce and court-ordered child maintenance matters, as part of its broader efforts to support vulnerable groups.
“We believe we are doing the right thing because what we have proposed is targeted at helping the groups under our responsibility,” she said.
