KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5 — The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is prepared to work with the Home Ministry to facilitate the implementation of the Baitul Mahabbah shelter for foreign children.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the matter had been discussed before whereby it was agreed that the Home Ministry would provide the premises to be used as the shelter, while the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry would provide the caregivers.
She said there were also some non-governmental organisations that had also expressed their willingness to accept the foreign children at their premises.
“Actually, the KDN had discussed plans to place foreign children at our institution, but we have not been given the permission yet,” she told reporters at the Artisans Development Association’s sale here today.
Yesterday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the ministry had opened the Baitul Mahabbah to provide temporary shelter for foreign children who were previously placed at immigration depots.
According to Saifuddin, the shelter is for children aged 10 and below, and for a start, the Immigration Department has relocated 23 children, along with 10 caregivers, comprising the mothers of the children concerned at the shelter.
They were from the Immigration depots in Bukit Jalil, Semenyih, KLIA and Eco Millennium Beranang.
Regarding today’s programme, Nancy said the artisans association via its Artisans Haven had collected RM1 million in sales since its establishment in 2020.
This, she said, proved the creativity and dedication of women entrepreneurs and the community, besides reflecting the support of various parties to the group.
“The support from the corporate sector and the SME is very valuable. It not only helps promote the development of women entrepreneurs and the community, but also provides a positive social impact,” she said and called for other corporate companies to do the same to empower women entrepreneurs, the community and individuals who need help.
— Bernama
