CHIEF Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg says the state government would begin implementing various social initiatives next year, with one of them being i-Suri or EPF voluntary contribution for housewives.
“This initiative provides a safety net to housewives, single mothers and single women aged below 60 and registered in the e-Kasih system.
“i-Suri members will be entitled for an annual grant from the federal government amounting to RM480. Apart from this, they will also be entitled to receive annual dividends, disability assistance and death benefits.
“Under this scheme, the state government will assist the eligible recipient to contribute RM60 annually to the EPF i-Suri account. For this purpose, a sum of RM4.2mil will be set aside in Sarawak Budget 2021 that will benefit 70,000 housewives.”
Abang Johari (PBB-Satok) said this when tabling the Sarawak Budget 2021 at the DUN sitting on Monday (Nov 9).
He said the Low-Income Household Empowering Programme (e-Life) would also be introduced in 2021 to empower the poor to increase their income through small business ventures by providing starter kits and materials as well as entrepreneurship skills.
“The target group includes the poor and welfare recipients or family members to enable them to be financially independent. In 2021, an allocation of RM10 million will be provided to implement this programme.”
In addition, Abang Johari also announced the State Health Insurance for e-Kasih recipients, to provide health insurance coverage for Sarawakians aged 18 years and below from e-Kasih household members not covered under the federal government’s MySalam scheme.
“This initiative will provide equal opportunities to all low-income households to enjoy quality healthcare services without incurring high out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.
“A sum of RM400 per year for primary healthcare will be given to about 12,500 eligible recipients next year and a sum of RM5 mln will be allocated for the scheme.”
On the top of this, he said the state government would continue implementing ongoing initiatives such as annual welfare assistance of RM57 mln for various welfare aid; Endowment Fund Sarawak of RM26mil that will benefit about 26,000 newborns; post-natal care assistance of RM16 mln; free school bus programme of RM2.6 mln for extension of services to other major towns such as Sibu, Bintulu and Miri.
Others would include operating grant of RM1.71 mln for One-Stop Early Intervention Centre; haemodialysis assistance of RM3.24 mln; Kenyalang Gold Card of RM12 mln; and fire relief assistance of RM55 mln.
