KUCHING: Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said Sarawak is committed to improving access to education and healthcare for all children under its social protection framework.
He said the initiatives aim to ensure that no child is left behind in accessing education and healthcare.
"As we navigate the complexities of our modern world, we must place our children at the centre of our social policies," he said at the opening of the Social Policy Conference of the East Asia and Pacific region.
The text of his speech was read by his deputy Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah.
The premier emphasised that investing in children was not merely a moral obligation, but it was an economic necessity.
"Research has shown that early investments in education and health yield significant returns, not only for individuals but for society," he said.
He said since 2020, the state government had introduced postnatal allowances (Bantuan Ibu Bersalin) to pregnant women and children, together with an endowment fund to improve the financial wellbeing of children in the future.
He said Sarawak was not excluded from the 20 per cent of the 400 million children in East Asia and Pacific region living in poverty.
"Hence, this is a call to action for all of us. We must ensure that every child has access to quality education, healthcare and social protection," he said, adding that the theme of the conference 'Prioritising Investments in Children in a Changing Region' could not be timelier.
He said the Sarawak government and the United Nations International Children Emergency's Fund (Unicef) were collaborating on a project, titled "Child-Sensitive Integrated Social Protection Initiatives", which aims to integrate social assistance for children with early childhood interventions and parenting education.
"This ongoing collaboration reflects our commitment towards constantly improving social protection and nutritional outcomes for children in Sarawak," he said.
He said UNICEF had reported that for every dollar invested in early childhood development, there was a return of up to US$12 in economic benefits.
"This is a compelling argument for why we must prioritise our investments in children," he said, adding that the future workforce of the region depends on the decisions made today.
"I am committed to ensuring that our policies are inclusive and sensitive to the needs of the poorest of the poor, the most marginalised groups, including rural communities, refugees and children living in urban slums," he said.
He said the state government had made it a priority to engage with community leaders and communities to understand their unique challenges and develop tailored solutions.
"By working together, we can create a more equitable society where every child can thrive," he said.
He added that countries across the East Asia and Pacific region had implemented innovative social policies that have yielded positive results.
"For example, South Korea has adopted a 'social investment state' model, emphasising education, childcare and employment support to address inequality and boost economic growth."
The initiatives include universal childcare services and an expansion of vocational training programmes for adults.
He said this approach had been successful in enhancing workforce participation, particularly for women, and reducing child poverty.
"Similarly, countries like Mongolia, Thailand, China and Japan have made significant investments in early childhood development, recognising its importance in shaping a child's future," he said, adding that by sharing best practices and learning from one another, the countries in the region could develop effective policies that address the challenges they face.