Nancy: KasihnITa aid vital for single mothers

By the Editorial Team · Monday, August 17, 2026

Malaysia’s Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri called for increased funding for the KasihnITa programme to expand support for single mothers facing financial and legal challenges, especially in Sabah where demand is highest. The ministry plans to continue providing legal aid and strengthen efforts to assist victims of domestic violence, aiming to improve the welfare and empowerment of vulnerable women across the country.

KOTA KINABALU — The Single Mothers Support programme, known as KasihnITa, requires increased funding to better assist women facing economic and social challenges, said Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, Malaysia’s Women, Family and Community Development Minister. She highlighted the programme’s role in empowering single mothers through various forms of support, including legal aid, financial management, and psychosocial guidance.

Citing data from the 2020 Statistics Department report, Nancy noted that there are 341,784 single mothers nationwide, with Sabah accounting for 29,232 of them. She emphasized the need for expanded budgets to reach a larger number of women in vulnerable situations, particularly those experiencing financial hardship and unemployment.

The KasihnITa initiative serves as a coordinated platform, bringing together agencies such as the Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency, Bank Negara Malaysia, and the Legal Aid Department. The programme aims to provide single mothers with information on available services to address issues such as alimony claims, legal rights, and economic challenges.

Nancy pointed out that many single mothers struggle to receive financial support from former spouses and often lack guidance after separation or divorce. Sabah reportedly has the highest number of applications to KasihnITa, where unemployment and lack of personal income are among the most common difficulties faced.

Speaking after officiating the state-level KasihnITa 2026 programme, the minister affirmed the ministry’s commitment to continuing legal aid for underserved women, including assistance related to marriage and divorce cases handled under both civil and Syariah law, regardless of race or religion. She indicated that funding for these services would be maintained in forthcoming budgets.

In addition to legal and financial assistance, the ministry plans to strengthen advocacy efforts aimed at supporting victims of domestic violence. Nancy stressed the importance of helping women break free from cycles of abuse, encouraging them to transition from victimhood to survivorship by accessing support systems.

She also urged victims to familiarize themselves with standard operating procedures for reporting domestic violence, and to seek help through available resources such as One Stop Crisis Centres at hospitals. These centres provide comprehensive support to those affected, ensuring timely intervention and assistance.

Through these combined efforts, the ministry aims to enhance the well-being and resilience of single mothers and women in difficult circumstances nationwide.

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