SIBU: News on former media practitioner, Edwin Jemat Nangkai, not receiving any welfare assistance from the state government underscores the need for the Social Welfare Department (JKM) to urgently review and revise the criteria for successful social welfare applications.
Former assemblywoman Irene Chang pointed out this review and revision exercise should have been carried out periodically so that JKM can effectively meet the needs of the people.
“In this case of Edwin, I am not surprised that his application was rejected as it was reported that he was a pensioner. From my experience, as long as an applicant has a source of financial aid from somewhere, the application would, more likely than not, be disallowed.
“It would not matter how meagre is the financial aid and whether or not that financial aid is sufficient for the needs of the applicant.
“Even sadder, from the many cases which I have helped to apply for social aid assistance, as long as the applicant has a living child who is an adult and gainfully employed, the application for social assistance would, more likely than not, be not successful,” she stated in a press statement here on Tuesday (Sept 26).
Chang, a lawyer by profession, said while she does agree with the principle that these children should be expected to look after the welfare of their aged parents, it is a sad reality that many are not able to do that.
In Sibu, she pointed out that there are many young people who are compelled to leave home to look for livelihood elsewhere.
Many of these people, she said, are claiming that they are barely making ends meet and hence are not able to regularly send money back to their parents at home.
Hence, their elderly parents are left to fend for themselves, she said, adding that they look to the social welfare for help but dismally, not all are successful.
She pointed out that the plight of Edwin is therefore a wake-up call for the Sarawak government to urgently review whether or not the existing criteria applied by JKM are living up to the purpose of helping people in financial need.
Factors such as income, family size, disability, and other relevant circumstances, which are used to determine eligibility, should be flexible and adaptable to the circumstances of the respective applicants, she said.
Chang emphasised that room for adjustments in eligibility criteria should be allowed during their times of crisis.
“I therefore urge the ministry in charge of social welfare to urgently look into reviewing and revising the social welfare criteria. This process should be constantly guided by the principle of improving the wellbeing of our most vulnerable members of society i.e. the elderly population and the B40s.
“It should also be conducted with empathy and a commitment to ensure that those in need receive the support and assistance they require.
“Indeed, there is no point for the Sarawak government’s Post-Covid Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 to meet its target to make Sarawak a high-income state by 2030 if the high income status does not commensurate with the living standards of all its population groups, including its most vulnerable groups. No one should be left behind,” she added.
