Lukanisman said any such initiative would require inter-ministry cooperation, possibly between his ministry and the human resources ministry.
“(The Cabinet will) think about which agencies can spearhead this. This also involves ringgit and sen. Many other sectors are certain to give their input.
“This will not be a one-way matter. It must be two-way, and we will also get the views of industry players.
“We don’t want this initiative to be seen as a burden, even though an organisation’s productivity decreases if its employees are not motivated due to stress or mental health issues,” he told reporters at the ministry today.
In June, Lukanisman was reported as saying in Parliament his ministry was working with telecommunications companies to provide free access to the national mental health crisis line, or HEAL, at 15555.
He said this was aimed at making it easier for the public to access mental health counselling services.
“We have received offers from telecommunications companies to provide this helpline free of charge, as currently it is subject to regular charges.
“We hope that major companies like CelcomDigi and Maxis will offer this service for free to encourage more young people to seek help and receive advice from counsellors,” he said.
Lukanisman said that through the line, the ministry managed to help 317 cases of suicidal behaviour, with the assistance of the police and other agencies.
On a separate matter, he said the leaky ceiling in the emergency zone of Miri Hospital’s new building has been repaired.
“Miri Hospital is under the defect liability period, and it is also not fully operational yet. Only the emergency departments have been opened, and so far, the departments are functioning well,” he said.
He said the leak was due to defective materials used in the ceiling’s construction, and the contractor met with the hospital’s director yesterday and carried out the repairs.
“There have been no leaks in the other zones. The area with the leak was in front of the (green zone’s) main door. In the yellow and red zones, operations are back to normal,” he said.