Kota Kinabalu: Inanam Assemblywoman Edna Jessica Majimbun has called for better welfare support systems for women struggling with the rising cost of living, especially single mothers and elderly women.
“Women are bearing the brunt of the rising cost of living, but their sacrifices often go unrecorded in official statistics,” she said in her maiden speech during the 2026 State Budget debate, Monday.
She said women in Inanam and surrounding areas, including settlements in Manggatal and Kolombong, are making personal sacrifices to keep families afloat.
“They reduce their own spending, postpone medical treatment and delay meeting personal needs to ensure family needs are met,” she said.
She cited Malaysia’s inflation rate at 1.3 per cent in October 2025 based on the Department of Statistics data.
“Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuel categories also showed an increase of around 1.1 per cent.
“Although these figures appear moderate on paper, the reality on the ground has a notable impact on household purchasing power, especially for families living on tight budgets,” she said.
She said rising prices of basic goods, housing costs and transportation costs create pressures on daily life, especially for women.
“I received complaints from single mothers in Inanam who qualify for assistance on paper but face difficulties due to complicated application processes and user-unfriendly digital systems,” she said.
For elderly women, she said, the lack of information and dependence on others causes them to be left out of welfare systems that should protect them.
“There are also low-income working women squeezed by rental costs, transportation costs and childcare costs simultaneously. But they are not eligible for assistance because they do not meet existing criteria,” she said.
She said housing is among the main contributors to living cost pressure in Inanam, pointing out that rental costs continue to rise while affordable housing supply remains insufficient.
For women, she said housing is not just shelter but a place of protection, safety and the foundation of family emotional stability.
“Without stable and safe housing, especially for single mothers, emotional pressure and uncertainty about family futures become heavier,” she said.
She also pointed out poor road conditions and limited internet access in Inanam and surrounding areas that not only make movement difficult but also increase transportation costs, affect safety and make it harder for women to work, send children to school and access basic services.
“These are not just physical development issues but basic needs of the people. Damaged and unsafe roads cause vehicle costs to increase, travel time to increase and safety risks for women and children to become higher,” she said.
She said that with road upgrades, villagers have the opportunity to increase their family income and make it easier to bring crops and garden produce to markets in nearby towns.
She also said access to stable internet through rural internet tower construction is a basic need today.
“Limited internet access makes it difficult for women to access information, apply for welfare assistance online, manage children’s education and run small economic activities from home.
“This simultaneously increases the gap, welfare and living costs for low-income families,” she said.
She said the welfare of the people should not stop just because of political differences, adding that living costs, welfare and housing are basic needs of the people.
“Therefore, allocations provided through the State Budget need to be channelled fairly and inclusively and based on needs so that every people’s representative, including in areas like Inanam and its surroundings, can implement effective welfare programmes and community support,” she said.
She said that when allocations can be implemented at the grassroots level, those who benefit are not any political party but the people they represent.
“A good budget is not only assessed through the amount of allocation announced but through its impact on people’s daily lives.
“If women continue to be the party bearing the burden of living costs without effective policy support, family welfare and the State’s social stability will continue to be affected.
“I hope this State Budget truly becomes a tool to protect women, strengthen family institutions and guarantee the future of the people in Inanam and throughout Sabah,” she said.
She said she supports efforts to strengthen the welfare and well-being of the people, with the hope that all approved allocations can be implemented transparently, effectively and with integrity.
