FAMILY IS BULWARK AGAINST SOCIETY’S ILLS

CELEBRATE..... Minister of Community Development and Consumer Affairs Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid at a function to celebrate Father’s and Mother’s Day at Karambunai’s Nexus Resort and Spa recently

By : SHALINA R

AT A function to celebrate Father’s and Mother’s Day at Karambunai’s Nexus Resort and Spa recently Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid, the Minister of Community Development and Consumer Affairs, spoke about the family unit as a strong bulwark against the ills of society in today’s world, especially involving children.

As we aspire to be a developed nation in the near future, our future generations will more than ever determine whether we can fulfil that aspiration or fall short of our goal.

Success or failure, the health of the family is a deciding factor. In order to protect society, the country must overcome its social problems. This is one of the focal points and responsibility of Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid as Minister of Community Development and Consumer Affairs.

Like everywhere else in today’s world, the state’s rapidly changing socio-cultural landscape has been dominated by the advent of technologies, especially the information technology that has brought about unlimited access to information on a global scale.

This is a boon to freedom of information, but it has many downsides as well, one of which is that it has a tendency to diminish personal relationships, even in the family. Divorced from parental attention and guidance, children have become more vulnerable to negative influences.

“A strong family provides the backbone that supports peace and harmony in society,” said Jainab.

“A cohesive family strengthens an individual’s ability to overcome the social ills that plague impressionable minds, more so than the efforts made by enforcement agencies.”

“We must work hand in hand to strengthen the family institution to prevent social problems from taking root at home and spreading to the community.”

Jainab advised parents to build a strong foundation of moral values in their children and at the same time guide them on the facts of life in the real world.

The Minister is particularly concerned about some negative aspects of traditional customs and social mores that are harmful to children. To counteract the negative mindsets of traditional societies she turns to the most influential people in the family unit, the women.

She revealed that she has tasked the newly appointed members of the Sabah Women’s Advisory Council (MPWS) to focus on closing the loopholes in the civil, criminal, syariah and customary laws to prevent people with negative intents or who have committed criminal acts from escaping prosecution through these loopholes.

She also reaffirmed her support for MPWS in seeking government funding as well as the cooperation of government departments to set up nurseries at  work places.

Touching on the Father’s and Mother’s day celebration, Jainab said it is an observance to acknowledge society’s debt of gratitude to fathers and mothers the world over, and one that should bring families closer together. (Insight Sabah)