Fatimah (center) speaks to the media while Rosey (left) and Tan look on. – Photo by Galileo Petingi
KUCHING (Dec 13): Sarawak’s Social Well-Being Index has seen a notable improvement, with the latest average score of 7.18 out of 10 in 2023, said Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah.
The Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development said the current score was an improvement compared to 6.21 in 2019.
She said the study, conducted by a consortium consisting of researchers from Swinburne University Sarawak, University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) and Curtin University, was done in 2023 and was finalised on May 31 this year.
“In terms of the study results that were presented during the meeting today, in comparison between 2019 and 2023, alhamdulillah it is found that the score has improved from 6.21 in 2019 to 7.18 in 2023.
“We are committed to continuously improve our social well being index, and we target to achieve a score of 8 after this.
“The next study will be conducted in 2026,” she told a press conference after chairing the Social Development Council (MPS) meeting at Wisma Bapa Malaysia in Petra Jaya here today.
Fatimah said the index was based on the pillars of social well-being, and the findings for 2023 revealed that Sarawak excelled in several areas, particularly under the ‘Family’ pillar, which achieved the highest score of 7.68, indicating a strong familial support and network within the community.
This, she added, was followed by Social Responsibility (7.45), Housing (7.38), Capacity Building (7.32), Environmental Sustainability (7.18), Governance and Administrative Practices (7.06), Public Safety (7.02), and Social Protection and Health (6.86).
However, the Space and Social Infrastructure pillar was scored the lowest, at 6.41.
“This is what we need to improve on, particularly in the central, northern and southern zones of the state, ” she said.
Commenting further, she said the overall improvement of the score was attributed to the various programmes implemented by the government to provide support and enhance the wellbeing of the community in Sarawak.
These initiatives, she added, include substantial investment in healthcare, education and community services, along with targeted programmes aimed at increasing economic opportunities and reducing social inequalities.
Among those present were Deputy Minister for Women and Childhood Development Datuk Rosey Yunus and the Ministry’s permanent secretary Datu Felicia Tan Ya Hua.
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