KOTA KINABALU: The government continously organizes various programs including courses to empower single mothers aged 40 and above, said the Minister of Community Development and People’s Well-being (KPMKR), Datuk James Ratib.
“The ministry through the Sabah Women’s Affairs Department (JHEWA) this year has implemented 26 courses that include several skills such as Culinary, Fabrics, Cosmetology, Handicrafts and Biotechnology in 20 districts.
“The courses are implemented specifically for single mothers based on JHEWA’s definition and also low-income married women in the B40 category aged between 18 and 55 years.
“The organized courses allow participants to start businesses and generate income and at the same time empower the participants’ economy,” he explained.
James said this while answering a question from Tanjong Papat Assemblyman, Datuk Frankie Poon Ming Fung during the second day of the Third Session of the Fourth Term of the Sixteenth State Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.
In his question, Poon asked the KPMKR Minister, how many courses have been conducted by the government to empower single mothers aged 40 and above; and if any, what is the number of statistics of participants in the course that has been conducted.
James who is also the Sugut Assemblyman added that the total number of participants for the skills course that has been implemented in 2023 is a total of 641 single mothers and low-income married women in the B40 category.
“A total of 162 single mothers aged 40 and over have already participated in the organized courses,” he explained.
