KOTA KINABALU: More allocations are required to help women under the Single Mothers Support programme (KasihnITa), says Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
The Women, Family and Community Development Minister said according to the Statistics Department report in 2020, there are 341,784 single mothers recorded nationwide.
Of the figure, 29,232 single mothers are listed in Sabah, she said.
Nancy said to help more women in the vulnerable category, bigger financial allocation was needed.
“It is important for this programme to continue to empower single mothers, to help them seek advice, legal assistance, financial management, economic guidance and psychosocial development for issues affecting their livelihood and their children,” she said after officiating at the state level KasihnITa 2026 programme.
The minister said in many cases, single mothers are deprived of their rights to get alimony, do not get financial and other support from their spouses (ex-husbands), adding that there are also those who do not know where to go after divorce or separation.
The KasihnITa programme is an avenue for women to seek assistance as it brings together agencies such as the Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency, Bank Negara and Legal Aid Department to inform single mothers about the services and assistance available to them.
Nancy said Sabah received the highest number of applications to be part of the KasihnITa programme, with the most common issues faced by single mothers in the state being unemployment and having no income of their own.
Speaking to reporters later, Nancy said the ministry would continue providing legal aid to underprivileged women, including single mothers facing financial difficulties and unemployment, through allocations under upcoming budgets.
She said the assistance covered legal services for marriage and divorce cases handled through civil or Syariah channels, regardless of race or religion.
Nancy said the ministry would also intensify advocacy programmes to provide information and guidance to women who are victims of domestic violence, helping them break free from the cycle of abuse.
“We do not want them to remain victims. We want them to become survivors so that they have the spirit to move forward with their lives and not allow themselves to be victimised by domestic violence,” she said.
Nancy also urged victims of domestic violence to familiarise themselves with the relevant standard operating procedures, including reporting incidents to the authorities, and to seek help at hospitals, where One Stop Crisis Centres are available.
