<\/p>\n
As Sarawak A particularly good example of this is The STF was This led towards the launching of STF II at Kampung Sg. Kut Muara, STF II\u2019s focus, which is the same as STF I, is as follows: <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n STF II\u2019s programme included 25 households that had 31 malnourished By comparison, the poverty index line for rural areas in Sarawak is During the launching of STF II, food baskets and food packages that <\/span>Most importantly, Y.B. Datin Let us hope that STF II becomes as successful, if not even more so Acknowledgment and thanks to Y.B. Datin Hajah Fatimah Abdullah,
\nenters the 21st<\/sup> Century, eradicating poverty within the state
\ncontinues to be an on-going issue. Needless to say, numerous efforts have been
\nmade by the government to ensure that the quality of life for the Sarawakian people
\nimproves, especially for those living in rural areas. <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n
\nreflected in the Sejahtera Task Force (STF). Headed by Y.B. Datin Hajah Fatimah
\nAbdullah, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister\u2019s Office (Human Resource and
\nTraining) and Assistant Minister of Agriculture (Home Economic and Training),
\nthe STF is a multi-agency programme, involving the Sarawak Department of
\nAgriculture, the Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture Sarawak (MOMA), WEDA,
\nthe Department of Education, the Medical and Health Services Department,
\nYayasan Sarawak, Yayasan Kemajuan Insan (YAKIN), the State Planning Unit (SPU)
\nand the State Development Office (SDO). <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n
\nfounded in 2005 as part of the government\u2019s plan to tackle the livelihood-related
\nproblems that were faced by those living within the central region of Sarawak.
\nIts pilot programme (STF I) was launched in October 2005 in Kampung Penipah,
\nPulau Bruit, Daro, proving to be a great success as the 20 households that were
\ninvolved in the programme increased their monthly income whilst most of the
\nchildren aged under 7 years old from these households reached their targeted
\nnormal weight as well as decreasing their levels of malnutrition. Also, there
\nwere no primary school student dropouts for the duration of STF I. As a result,
\nthe Sarawak government subsequently agreed that the programme should be
\ncontinued in Kampung Penipah and be carried out in Kampung Penibong and Kampung
\nPenuai in Pulau Bruit and Kampung Sg. Kut Muara and Kampung Sg. Kut Tengah,
\nDalat. <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n
\nDalat on 6 November 2006 by Y.B. Datin Hajah Fatimah Abdullah. <\/span>Accompanying <\/span>Y.B. Datin Hajah Fatimah Abdullah were officers from the
\naforementioned government departments, including Datu Jaul Samion, Permanent
\nSecretary of MOMA, district officers of Dalat and staff members of the Eastern
\nTimes-FAX Fly Care Programme, <\/span>Kuching
\nSpecialist Hospital, Marriot Hotel and Spa, Miri and the Sarah John Foundation,
\nAustralia.<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n\n
\n
\nby teaching them about income generating skills<\/span><\/font><\/span><\/font><\/li>\n
\nlevels of children aged below 7 years old<\/span><\/font><\/span><\/font><\/li>\n
\nand above<\/span><\/font><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nchildren whom were selected from Kampung Sg. Kut Muara (out of a total of 208 households
\nand a population of 1,255 people) and Kampung Sg. Kut Tengah (out of a total of
\n62 households and a population of 436 people). To note, the monthly income of
\nthese households range from RM 250-1,500 with a per-capita income ranging from
\nRM 35.71-180. <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n
\nRM 753 for a household with 4.2 members with a per-capita income of RM 179.30
\nTypically, the heads of these households work as labourers, scalers, drivers,
\nloggers, farmers and mechanics, with their levels of education ranging between
\nnothing and Primary 6.<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n
\nwere donated by the Marriot Hotel and Spa, Miri, Kuching Specialist Hospital
\nand the SDO were distributed to the participating households. Eastern Times
\nSdn. Bhd. also donated copies of the Eastern Times whilst the Sarah John
\nFoundation donated 40 boxes of \u2018Reliv Now\u2019, this being a children\u2019s nutritional
\nproduct.<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n
\nHajah Fatimah Abdullah\u2019s opening speech stressed <\/span>the fact that STF I would not have been a success if the
\nparticipants themselves were not thinking positively and being open-minded
\ntowards the changes that were required in order to increase their levels of
\nincome, health and education. Indeed, even if the government were to provide as
\nmuch financial aid and manpower as possible towards helping these people
\neradicate poverty from their lives, it would be impossible to do if they were
\nunwilling to take the necessary steps as part of improving their livelihoods.<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n
\nthan STF I, as the path towards eradicating poverty continues. <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n
\nAssistant Minister in the Chief Minister\u2019s Office (Human Resource and
\nTraining), Assistant Minister of Agriculture (Home Economic and Training) and
\nChairperson of the Sejahtera Task Force <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n