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)
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