D17 : Social Problems

Social problems including incest, promiscuity, prostitution and gambling are issues in Sabah. In 2004, Sabah was ranked second in the number of cases involving incest (44 cases) in the country. The state has some 2,900 registered single mothers and possibly another 300 more scattered around Kota Kinabalu and towns in 17 districts. This makes Sabah one of the states with the highest number of single mothers in the country. Sabah has also been identified as a transit point for human trafficking for prostitution in the country. According to Tenaganita, there are between 30,000 and 32,000 trafficked persons passing through Sabah based on the official figures of 600,000 to 800,000 migrant workers in the state in 2009. There is also a proposal to open a casino as Sabah already has 44 jackpot licences and authorised the use of 425 jackpot machines. As is, more and more Sabahans are borrowing money from loan sharks for gambling, contributing to the problem of broken families.

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for political will to address all these social problems. • Pray for churches to arise to help the government address some of these social problems. • Pray for the right kind of welfare homes with Christian values to disciple and transform victims of social ills so that they can be ‘overcomers’ and a positive influence in society.