KUCHING: The Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development (KPWKM) remains committed to improving care and rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities (OKU) in Sarawak, with ongoing efforts to expand special needs centres across the state.
During the Fifteenth Parliament Senate session on Mar 19, senator Roderick Wong Siew Lead raised concerns about the accessibility of such centres in Sarawak and queried the ministry’s plans to increase their numbers.
In response, KPWKM Minister Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad revealed that as of February 2025, Sarawak has 54 Community-Based Rehabilitation Centres (PDK) out of 573 nationwide, along with 10 registered OKU care centres under the Department of Social Welfare (JKM), providing essential support for the disabled community.
“The Sarawak state government has taken proactive steps in providing care, rehabilitation, and training services for OKU through the Pusat Kecemerlangan Samarahan (Samarahan Excellence Centre),” she said.
“Currently, the centre houses 18 trainees with hearing impairments, physical disabilities, and learning difficulties.”
Sarawak is also home to a government-assisted TASKA OKU (Special Needs Childcare Centre), which caters to young children with disabilities.
Beyond government-led initiatives, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) play a crucial role in supporting OKU care services in the state, with Noraini highlighting that these centres serve as a vital safety net for the disabled community by providing various forms of assistance and rehabilitation.
She reassured that the ministry remains steadfast in supporting Sarawak’s OKU community but emphasised that establishing new care and placement centres requires thorough evaluation.
“The decision to open new centres must involve both the ministry and the Sarawak State Government. Key considerations include the number of OKU in need, land availability, development funding, and staffing requirements,” she added.
