Kuching CSSC to start operating on Dec 2

Kuching’s Community Social Support Centre (CSSC) at Jalan Abell will start its operation on Dec 2 to provide social support and intervention referral for vulnerable groups.

Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, who revealed this, said that the centre will function as an integrated social transformation centre to help the target groups, with the collaboration of related strategic partners to address their social issues holistically.

The Kuching CSSC is among the eight approved CSSC, one each in Sri Aman, Sibu, Kapit, Mukah, Bintulu, Miri and Lawas; and she believed the centre is the first in Malaysia.

“The SCCS will support intervention for drug and substance abuse, AADK (National Anti Drugs Agency), intervention referral for the vulnerable group and temporary transit centre,” she said at the ministry’s appreciation and celebration dinner on Tuesday.

She added that nongovernmental organisations will be brought onboard, like Sarawak Women, Society for Kuching Urban Poor and National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN).

She said that LPPKN will establish Cafe 18 which is not only for the vulnerable but also get the young generation to join CSSC as volunteers.

The CSSC will also become a transit centre for domestic violence victims and a food bank will be established there.

“There are a lot of companies or corporate bodies who want to donate in kind, and we welcome dry food stuff that can be distributed to the needy not only in Kuching but also in Sarawak.”

Similarly, in efforts towards digital transformation, the ministry together with Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA), State Services Modernisation Unit (SSMU) and SOCOE have successfully designed and developed a digital platform which facilitates access to and the management of benefits, incentives, welfare assistance and social services (iSarawakCare Project).

Fatimah said the iSarawakCare has won the London Design Awards 2022 under the category of Digital Government Services.

First mooted in 2019, the single digitalised platform will help to maximise resources and improve efficiency as well as coordination, she said.