24 families living near landfill to get aid
For my department, we can just give welfare, but there are so many things involved - education, resettlement, health, job opportunities and so forth.
SIBU: Various government departments and agencies are joining hands to see how they can help the 24 families squatting at the dumping site in Seng Ling Road here.
The departments are the Welfare Department, Land and Survey Department, Education Department, National Registration Department ( NRD), Health Department and the local authority.
Welfare, Community WellBeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said those squatters are facing multiple problems which cannot be solved by a single agency.
“For my department, we can just give welfare, but there are so many things involved – education, resettlement, health, job opportunities and so forth,” she told reporters when visiting the site yesterday.
During the visit, she approved two applications for welfare assistance.
“Three other applications are pending approval, with 10 other applications to be processed.
“We’ve also received five new applications.
“Under my ministry, it is easy, but if it involves other departments, we need to negotiate,” she said.
According to her, the landfill
Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, Welfare, Community Well-Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister
had been closed since 2003. “I want the authorities to make sure there is no more dumping there,” she said.
It is learned that the council allows construction waste or building waste to be dumped there, but not organic waste.
Fatimah said the families have agreed to move if given lots to build their homes.
“This is not a place to stay. Not conducive for living, especially to the children. So, for the relocation, we will ask the Land and Survey Department to look into the application,” she added.
She also pointed out that she could not give any time frame on the relocation period as it is not under her jurisdiction.
The Education Department will look into those who are dropouts or young children who are supposed to stay in school.
“Our suggestion is to send them to boarding school. I urge the parents not to be soft with their children when it comes to education.
“There are Form 5 school leavers and we will help them to get into skills learning in Giat Mara. They can have skills and get better jobs instead of doing nothing at the site,” she said.
She also received report of glue sniffing activities among the children there and suggested that these children be sent to Peryatim in Sibu.
That would depend on the agreement from the guardians.
“However, if we cannot trace the guardians, we will use our authority to protect the children and send them to a more conducive place for them. That of course would be our last choice,” she pointed out.
She also said that some of the children had incomplete immunisation, thus the Health Department would need to look into the matter.
“Another thing is that because there are stray dogs here and with rabies case happening in Sarawak, the local council needs to see to it,” she said. For stateless issue, the NRD will help in the application for birth certificates and identification card.
Twenty- four families are currently staying at the dumping site and some have been there for more than 20 years.
These people ‘ migrated’ there from various places in Sibu, Matu Daro, Bawang Assan Kampung Jeriah, and Bintangor.
They lived without water and electricity supplies and make a living scavenging at the dumping site to sell at the market.
Also joining the visit yesterday were Bukit Assek assemblywoman Irene Chang and Pelawan assemblyman David Wong.