Proposal for Mobile Social Support Centres in Sabah to Assist Women Affected by Domestic Violence

PENAMPANG, May 19 — The National Welfare Foundation (YKN) has proposed the establishment of mobile Local Social Support Centres (PSSS) in Sabah to assist women experiencing domestic violence, particularly in rural areas.

YKN chief executive officer Nordina Haron said these mobile centres would serve as a vital link for women in remote locations, allowing them to report issues to authorities without the burden of travel expenses to urban centres.

The PSSS initiative is supported by the MyPSSS app, which enables direct complaints to be routed to agencies under the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry (KPWKM) via Talian Kasih. These agencies include the Social Welfare Department, which handles cases such as assistance for families with disabled children, missing child reports, and psychosocial concerns.

“These centres address a wide range of social issues and connect affected individuals not only to YKN but also to relevant ministries and government agencies,” she told reporters at the Jelajah Kasih PSSS programme yesterday. The event was officiated by Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick.

The programme, part of the Kembara Kasih KPWKM 2025 initiative, covers two main zones in Sabah — Zone 1 (Tuaran, Papar, and Penampang) and Zone 2 (Lahad Datu, Kunak, and Tawau).

Nordina revealed that over 2,000 psychosocial cases were reported during the three-day programme in Sabah, including concerns related to the cost of living, workplace challenges, family problems, and abuse.

“When we receive such cases, YKN acts as a conduit, directing them to the appropriate ministry or agency. For family-related matters, we refer them to the National Population and Family Development Board,” she explained.

She added that the local slogan “sa dengar, sa tulung bah” (I listen, I help) displayed on the PSSS bus has encouraged many locals to approach counsellors and share their struggles. The strong response has made the PSSS booth a key attraction at the event.“We hope the two PSSS buses can reach more communities, not just in urban centres but also in remote areas,” she said, noting that deployment of the buses would be determined based on community needs.

Each bus is equipped with private counselling rooms to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for individuals to speak openly with counsellors. — Bernama