{"id":22601,"date":"2023-10-14T00:48:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-13T16:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rakansarawak.com\/v3\/?p=22601"},"modified":"2023-10-14T14:55:07","modified_gmt":"2023-10-14T06:55:07","slug":"high-empathy-and-commitment-are-must-haves-at-kpwkm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rakansarawak.com\/v3\/2023\/10\/14\/high-empathy-and-commitment-are-must-haves-at-kpwkm\/","title":{"rendered":"High Empathy and Commitment are Must-Haves at KPWKM"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

YB Dato\u2019 Sri Hajah Nancy binti Haji Shukri is no stranger to Cabinet-level posts. She was the Minister in the Prime Minister\u2019s Department (Legal Affairs Division) (2013-2016) as well as the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (2020-2022) before being appointed as Minister of Women, Family and Community Development in December 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike her previous experiences, however, her latest portfolio demands the need to be emotionally and empathetically engaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is because the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat; KPWKM<\/em>) takes account of the people and their well-being \u2013 from the moment they were born until the time they pass on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople\u2019s expectations (towards the ministry) are really high, so I have to adapt to the needs of those under our target groups,\u201d she says in an interview with RAKAN Sarawak<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adapting, she relates, in terms of understanding the roles, functions and procedures of KPWKM and agencies under its purview (Table 1) to identify and address areas that require improvements so that all entities are able to deliver their services better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AGENCIES UNDER KPWKM<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat<\/a>Jabatan Pembangunan Wanita<\/a>Lembaga Penduduk dan Pembangunan Keluarga Negara<\/a>Institut Sosial Malaysia<\/a>Yayasan Kebajikan Negara<\/a>Lembaga Kaunselor Malaysia<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Table 1: Agencies and departments under the purview of KPWKM. Source: <\/em>https:\/\/www.kpwkm.gov.my\/kpwkm\/index.php?r=portal\/index<\/em><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

More crucially, she has been paying greater attention to cases and socio-economic challenges affecting the ministry\u2019s target groups such as children, women, the elderly and persons with disabilities (orang kurang upaya; OKU<\/em>), and finding ways to tackle them effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With children, for example, those who have been abandoned, neglected or abused are provided care, protection, rehabilitation and development services by KPWKM through the Children\u2019s Division under Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat <\/em>(JKM).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is a scope, Dato\u2019 Sri Nancy notes, that is already wide-ranging in itself. This is before even considering numerous other aspects of other target groups.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy (seated left) during her visit to Anjung Kasih HUS (Hospital Umum Sarawak), Kuching on 30 January 2023. Photo from Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat official website<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Leading the ministry is a position that she candidly states she has \u201cnever been looking forward to\u201d, given the weight of responsibility it involves. Still, in spite of the heavy lifting to guarantee social development in Malaysia, she remains steadfast in facing such daunting task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why for me to those who have held this position before, I salute them. I am very grateful to those who have given their best in contributing to this ministry.<\/p>\n\n\n

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To head or work under KPWKM (Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat), according to Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy, involves being emotionally and empathetically engaged to the needs of the people and their well-being. File photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cAs I experience it now, I believe that if our commitment or empathy is not tremendous enough, we won\u2019t be able to provide the best service,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Empowering Target Groups<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In line with its mission of \u201cintegrating the perspectives of women and society into the mainstream of national development and strengthen the family institution towards improving social welfare\u201d, KPWKM<\/a> and its agencies have been implementing various initiatives that are designed to enhance the well-being of its target groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, Talian Kasih 15999<\/a>, a toll-free, 24-hour integration line serves as a single point of contact for target groups to relay any enquiry, complaint or request for help relating to their well-being for the ministry to receive and handle them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These can include<\/a> child and women abuse, counselling, homelessness, protection, welfare, baby dumping, reproductive health services, teenage social issues, disaster victims, OKU, the elderly, and human trafficking.<\/p>\n\n\n

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As of 31 January 2023, 637,537 OKUs have registered themselves in the disability registration system in Malaysia. Photo from Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat official website<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Starting 27 October 2021, OKUs in Malaysia can register online via MyDaftar OKU<\/a>, upon which they will be provided with a digital card via QR code before obtaining the physical version. As of 31 January 2023<\/a>, 637,537 of them have registered themselves in the disability registration system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The initiative is part of KPWKM\u2019s efforts<\/a> to enhance the existing system that utilises the OKU Information System platform to make it more comprehensive and accurate, as well as to better facilitate the registration of more OKUs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ensuring its success is vital<\/a> not only for the ministry through JKM to plan and provide suitable facilities that cater to the needs of OKUs, but also for OKUs themselves to gain benefits and assistance offered by government entities or private sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since Dato\u2019 Sri Nancy began her tenure at KPWKM, a number of programmes have been carried out, focusing on boosting the socio-economic well-being of women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wanita Bangkit@KPWKM<\/a>, for example, seeks to empower women across Malaysia, especially those who have lost their income, primary breadwinners and single mothers, to be financially and economically independent and improve their standard of living, subsequently contributing to the country\u2019s economic growth.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Various efforts have been undertaken by KPWKM to empower women in enhancing their socio-economic well-being. File photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

As of April 2023<\/a>, there are 18,900 women who have participated in the programme, comprising various entrepreneurial training and courses and even psycho-educational support organised via strategic collaborations with other government agencies and departments as well as corporate companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Sarawak, the ministry through Lembaga Penduduk dan Pembangunan Keluarga Negara<\/em> (LPPKN) and Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri Sarawak<\/em> have embarked on a pioneering collaboration<\/a> with the implementation of the Gempur Saringan HPV DNA programme to promote early detection of cervical cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The initiative is expected to be carried out throughout 2023 as a continuation of the institution\u2019s women\u2019s reproductive cancer awareness campaign that was launched in January that year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also known as WCaRe, it aims<\/a> to increase awareness of all parties, especially women, on the importance of early screening to detect cervical cancer and breast cancer so that preventive measures and appropriate treatment can be implemented accordingly for those in need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strengthening Capability and Encouraging Collaboration<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All initiatives catering to KPWKM\u2019s target groups such as those mentioned above could not be achieved without the capable hands of staff members as well as volunteers of the ministry and relevant agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Strengthening the capability of the workforce and volunteers under KPWKM and its relevant agencies is a top priority for Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy. File photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

That, however, comes with its own set of challenges. The most prevalent is the hefty workload that they have to handle despite their \u2018low\u2019 educational level \u2013 be they diploma or even Form Five \u2013 which to Dato\u2019 Sri Nancy is not an issue so long as their qualification is relevant to their job scope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut if they are not given assignments related to their qualification, it is going to be difficult for them to deal with cases that tend to be very sensitive and heart-wrenching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo imagine if you are a diploma holder or you just finished Form Five, and you are exposed to such emotionally demanding task. If you come to realise how taxing it is, what more to say when you are told to bear the burden of that work?\u201d she illustrates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, to boost the efficiency of staff members and volunteers, the ministry has organised various workshops, courses and briefings for them to attend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They focus on equipping them with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitude needed to perform in their jobs well, such as guidelines, standard operating procedures and laws that can impact the way they carry out their assignments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dato\u2019 Sri Nancy adds that collaboration with ministries, agencies and departments other than KPWKM is also important when implementing its initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, i-Sayang<\/a>, which was launched in March this year, is an initiative by the ministry and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) that enables husbands to voluntarily transfer two per cent of their EPF monthly contribution to their wives\u2019 account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collaboration matters to Dato\u2019 Sri Nancy because all ministries as part of the Government have to responsibility to ensure an inclusive and fair societal development in Malaysia, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and elements of environmental, social and governance (ESG).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also aligns with her belief that \u201cquality begins at home\u201d \u2013 in this context, the commitment to guarantee whatever efforts undertaken today in producing an empathetic and productive future generation have to start from the personal conviction of present leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me it is a principle that I always hold on to. I also need the strong support of my friends in the Government as well as NGOs (non-governmental organisations) who can give their perspectives, advice and cooperation in our activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo the society as a whole necessitate the solid support from all stakeholders in order to nurture responsible children \u2013 children who can be future leaders of their communities, the country, government, or whatever organisation that they are in,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Examples of Institutions Under KPWKM<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the ways KPWKM cater to the needs of its wide-ranging target groups is through institutions managed by agencies under its purview. Among them are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n