Kota Kinabalu: Some 2,313 people with disabilities have registered with 40 community-based rehabilitation (CBR) centres in Sabah, as of Nov 25, said Assistant Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Minister Flovia Ng.
The Ministry, she said, is planning to set up at least one CBR centre in each district to provide services to the disabled.
“The centres were set up for the convenience of children with special needs regardless of whether they are in the rural or urban areas,” she said to a question by nominated assemblywoman Datuk Amisah Yassin, at the State Legislative Assembly sitting.
She further said the State Government has provided an allocation of RM200,000 in the 2023 Budget for CBR centres throughout the State, which is an allocation of RM5,000 per centre to ease the burden of management cost.
To a supplementary question by Kapayan assemblywoman Jannie Lasimbang, Flovia admitted that the RM5,000 allocation is not sufficient.
“However, at the moment, that is the amount of allocation that we received but we will try to increase that amount through any existing allocations,” she said.
Meanwhile, to another question by Jannie, Special Tasks and Coordination Minister Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif said the State Government has provided various assistance to rural students who further their tertiary studies.
“The government is studying to increase the scholarship allowance for the State Scholarship and the Yayasan Sabah Scholarship looking at the rising cost of living.
“Aside from that, Muis is coordinating the tithe donation rate to be in line with the allowance offered by the State Scholarship.”
He said the Special Tasks and Coordination Ministry is also aiding students.
Among the assistance is the one-off higher learning institute registration cash assistance (Budi) – RM2,000 for students pursuing a bachelor’s degree, while a RM1,500 assistance for diploma/foundation/matriculation students.
This year, he said, the State Government has provided an allocation of RM10 million to implement the programme.
“Another programme is the computer aid (Baik) which provides laptops to students under the hardcore poor e-Kasih list who are studying at higher learning institutions or schools who cannot afford computers for learning purposes.
“This programme involves an allocation of RM1 million,” he said.
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