By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Sept 14: The setting up of Sunshine Home Temporary Shelter Project at Mile 7, Kota Sentosa Commercial Centre which will provide various support services to the community ought to be emulated by other non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development (KWKPK) Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah thanked Divine Will Society (DWS) and Lions Club Oriental Chapter for the contribution of the three shop lot units to serve as a community-based social support centre.
The project is able to provide various support services as it houses a kidney dialysis centre, a temporary shelter for needy families, victims of natural disaster and domestic violence as well as a daycare centre for senior citizen and Alzheimer group, apart from a youth development centre and a therapeutic garden.
“This is indeed an exemplary effort as volunteers from various professional backgrounds are coming together for a common cause to provide various services to the community.
“Such extraordinary effort should be emulated by other NGOs because social support services are very important as we move forward to become a developed State,” said Fatimah when visiting the proposed Sunshine Home Temporary Shelter Project today.
Fatimah also lauded DWS’s plan to set up a protection shelter for victims of domestic violence but stressed that there are requirements needed to be met beforehand.
“One of the requirements is that the venue must be gazetted. Besides that, there are safety measures that need to be taken into consideration to make sure that it is truly safe from any perpetrator,” she said.
The Dalat assembly woman also pointed out that the setting up of a daycare centre has requirements to be fulfilled such as appropriate ratio of staff to client as well as safety and technicality compliance set by the relevant authorities.
Meanwhile, DWS trustee member Dato Sim Kiang Chiok informed that his family donated the three units of three storey shoplots at Kota Sentosa in March 2019.
“It is in line with my mother Datin Clare’s wishes for us to carry on our late father Dato Sim Swee Yong’s charity work and to always do good for the society.
“We started to renovate the centre in 2019 but then Covid-19 pandemic hit us, so the works was put on hold since March 2020.
“Now that our vaccination rates against the virus are high, it is timely for us to get ready for the opening of the daycare centre for the elderly and Dementia/Alzheimer group; the kidney dialysis centre; the temporary shelter for victims of fire, flood and domestic violence; the cafe and the youth tuition centre here,” he said.
He hoped other NGOs may follow suit in coming forward to provide social support services for the community throughout Sarawak and Malaysia as a whole.
“It (the effort) is a small ripple in a big ocean and hopefully it will create waves for our society to be more caring, loving and kind to each other. We love all and we serve all,” he added.
Amongst those present during the visit were Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Lo Khere Chiang, DWS chairman Anthony Bong, DWS trustee member Sim Meng Chiok. — DayakDaily
