KUCHING: Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said the Welfare Department goes to the ground to reach out to the needy and disabled (OKU).

“In addition to that we call on community leaders to furnish us with a report of needy or disabled people in their areas to ensure nobody is left out.

“Together with various agencies, we provide integrated and holistic assistance for the disabled in Sarawak,” she said when officiating at the opening of Pakma Gading Community Rehabilitation Centre (PDK) in Lundu yesterday.

She said the state has 35,410 registered OKUs with all kinds of disabilities.

“PDK is a strategy to conduct rehab and training for the disabled in the community. There are many OKUs who do not need to be put into institutions as with the right training, they can be independent and inspire other OKUs.

“The role of PDK is made possible by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, which provide grants to PDK throughout the state to ensure smooth operation of the centres,” she said.

Fatimah said: “It is important to have a MP who is well-liked, goes to the field to fulfill promises, and ensure the welfare of the people are taken care of.

“Santubong has such a candidate in Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi (Tuanku Jaafar). He provides the personal touch and engages in decision making with community leaders in his area,” she said.

Wan Junaidi himself said: “I help my constituents regardless of their race or religion and I work with like-minded community leaders to ensure everyone is taken care of. The BN government will continue to help the people with various assistance and programmes,” he said.

Among those present were Women, Family and Community Development Ministry secretary-general Dato Seri Dr Noorul Ainur Mohd Nur, Pakma Gading PDK patron Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu, Social Welfare Department director-general Dato Norani Hashim; Welfare, Women and Family Development permanent secretary Rodziah Morshidi, state Social Welfare Department director Noriah Ahmad, Opar assemblyman Ranum Mina and Pakma Gading PDK committee chairman Penghulu Wang Ering.

(Source : Borneo Post Online , 1 May 2013)