Venue: APPGM-SDG Sarawak Regional Office & SDG Centre

The Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association (SDGA) was honoured to be invited by the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on Sustainable Development Goals (APPGM-SDG) to participate in a focus group discussion alongside the Sarawak Women for Women Society and Purple Lily, addressing two pressing social issues in Sarawak, namely rising teenage pregnancies and the ageing population.

On the issue of teenage pregnancies, participants highlighted several challenges faced by non-governmental organisations, including limited funding, lengthy approval processes for school-based programmes, and the sensitivity surrounding reproductive health education within the local context. The discussion emphasised the importance of adopting youth-friendly language and more appropriate terminology in future initiatives to ensure greater acceptance and effectiveness, particularly among students.

Discussions on the ageing population underscored the need for a holistic and inclusive approach as Sarawak transitions towards becoming an ageing society. Key areas identified included improving accessible public infrastructure, strengthening community-based support through domiciliary care, increasing the affordability of elderly care homes with government assistance, and ensuring stronger policy emphasis on elderly welfare.

Participants also called for clearer and more comprehensive policy actions from relevant ministries to prioritise both youth wellbeing and elderly care, recognising the importance of safeguarding vulnerable groups through coordinated and sustainable measures.

The focus group provided a meaningful platform for civil society organisations to share on-the-ground perspectives while contributing towards policy discussions aimed at building a more inclusive and resilient Sarawak.