Women legal aid centre handles 14 cases

KOTA KINABALU: The government’s women legal aid centre (PGBW) handled 14 cases in January since commencing operations on the second day of 2018.

Sabah Women Affairs Department’s (JHEWA) Sabah Women Advisory Council (MPWS) chairperson Datuk Tarsiah T Z Taman said some of those cases had already been solved and involved no costs as issues had been solved outside of court.

She added that the free legal services had been rendered to women from nearby districts with marriage, divorce, alimony and other problems.

“This is open to all. It doesn’t matter (if they are) Malay, Chinese, no race,” said Tarsiah.

“There are those who are shy, scared of the financial repercussions, or even shy away from asking.

“No costs have been involved so far. (Cases) can be settled by our lawyers and there are no court cases yet,” she shared.

The official launch of the centre is expected to be on March 5, pending Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman’s green light.

She said the centre was the brainchild of the Chief Minister and a RM1 million had been approved for its startup.

Tarsiah said although none of the cases were serious, a panel of lawyers would complement the centre’s resident top lawyer should it be necessary in the future.

The centre, under the management of Sabah Women Affairs Department, offers legal advice, services and awareness for women from all walks of life in Sabah.

Women, regardless of racial and religious background, can get in touch with the women’s legal aid centre by calling +6016 8339072 (Siti Hafsah Adenan) or go to Level 2 (lawyer panel) and Level 4 (administrative assistant) of JHEWA Sabah at Wisma Wanita, Kota Kinabalu.