Collection centre for cottage industry, handicraft planned
KUCHING: The Ministry of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family, and Childhood Development hopes to set up a cottage industry and handicraft collection centre to benefit the target groups.
Its minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the proposal was still in the discussion stage, and once completed it would be presented to the chief minister.
“I have received the working paper, and we will see the concept of the collection centre and its objectives,” she told a press conference after a briefing on the ministry’s strategic plan 2018 by the ministry’s permanent secretary Dr Saadiah Abdul Samat here yesterday.
Fatimah said the collection centre was different from those of other ministries because theirs would focus on collecting handicraft, processed food, and beads, among others. It aims to re-brand, package and digital market the products.
She added that the planning had to be done earlier to ensure the duties and roles of the ministry remain relevant and accurate.
Among problems faced by the ministry, identified during the briefing, was the insufficient manpower which only had three at the moment. The same is happening for the registration of the Non-Muslim Charitable Trust, which also comes under the ministry, due to the lack of staff. The latter is not easy as it involves legislation and others.
Fatimah said the ministry would bring forward the suggestion for the Strategic Plan 2018 to the chief minister for endorsement to ensure it ( plan) is on the right track before implementation.
Assistant Minister of Community Well Being Datuk Francis Harden Hollis, Assistant Minister of Women, Family, and Childhood Development Rosey Yunus and director of the state Women and Family Department Noriah Ahmad were also present at the function.