SIBU: Sarawak will set up seven more Community Social Support Centres, with the facility in Sibu to be operational by April.
This will be followed by facilities in Sri Aman, Mukah, Kapit, Bintulu (ready by May 2025), Miri and Lawas.
The Sri Rejang Resthouse would be renovated for the facility here, according to state Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
The first centre in Kuching has been in operation since Jan 3.
The centres are intended to be places where the community may address issues such as domestic violence and mental health; receive counselling; and refer cases to the relevant authorities.
"We want to facilitate the responsibility of various departments, be it state or Federal, for the promotion of the well-being of the community through the setting up of these centres," Fatimah said on Monday (Oct 16).
"The centres are in line with economic development and the physical and post-pandemic effects of Covid-19, the prevalence of social issues in Sarawak, especially against major social issues.
"(These issues) affect community well-being and have started spreading outside urban areas," she said.
Fatimah identified some of the social issues as drug and substance abuse; property crime; domestic violence; sexual harassment of children and women; teenage pregnancy, marriage and divorce; mental health; bullying; cyber crime; ageing; poverty; homelessness; and documentation problems.
The Sibu centre is an initiative by the ministry and the Sibu Resident Office.
It will have a soup kitchen, a one-stop integrated social intervention referral services centre, consultation room, youth corner, activity room, common lounge and food bank, among other facilities.
