By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, March 25: The findings of a review to improve the Destitute Persons Act 1977 are expected to be completed by September, says Women, Family, and Community Development Minister, Dato Sri Nancy Shukri.
She said the government also wants to improve the act for senior citizens before it is amended.
“We want to see an overall review of the law before we amend it and whether it would be more suitable and as required by the Health Ministry,” she said to reporters after a ‘Program Rahmah Ramadan’ with the residents of Desa Bina Diri in Kota Samarahan today.
Due to that, she said there are still no plans yet to bring in mental illness experts for destitute individuals in institutions in Sarawak.
She said at this moment, treatment for these patients is not on par with the treatment given by the Health Ministry.
In February last year, it was reported that Social Welfare Department deputy director-general (Strategy), Rosmahwati Ishak, said the review of the act began in July last year and is expected to be completed in September this year.
Rosmahwati stated that the decision on a new law or to improve the act to tackle the issue of beggars could only be made after the review of the act is completed.
Earlier, Nancy handed goodies to some 37 residents of the Desa Bina Diri institution Kota Samarahan as a gesture of goodwill during the holy month of Ramadan.
The institution houses destitute individuals facing social issues and mental illness. — DayakDaily
