SRI AMAN: Senior citizens make up the highest monthly number of recipients who receive help from the Sarawak Welfare Department, said Minister of Community Wellbeing, Datuk Francis Harden Hollis. He revealed this while officiating an event entitled “Majlis Sejambak Kasih Hari Gawai dan Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2018” organised by the Sri Aman Welfare Department at the Civic Centre here yesterday.
According to him, 22,084 out of the 56,464 total monthly welfare recipients from January to March this year were senior citizens. “The State Welfare Department channelled RM52,446,450 into the seven categories of monthly aid in the country for the whole period, with senior citizens receiving RM23,419,500 out of the total amount,” he said.
Child and Top Assistance (by the State government), Harden added, ranked second with 11,475 recipients receiving total aid amounting to RM9,446,750. The General Assistance category ranked third with 11,185 recipients receiving total aid of RM7,836,750.
“The money was also channelled into the Disabled Employment Category and the State Government Top Up (RM5,773,800), Disabled Worker Allowance (RM3,944,900) and Disabled Care / Chronic Care Patients (RM2,007,500).
“The lowest monthly number of beneficiaries during the period was in the Child Helpline Assistance category; 16 people received total aid amounting to RM17,250, “added Harden.
Earlier, the event saw 300 Sri Aman residents receiving a RM100 cash donation and a RM50 hamper each in conjunction with the Gawai Dayak and Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations this year. Also present were the Sarawak Welfare Director, Abang Shamsuddin Abang Seruji, Sri Aman Resident, Indit Bangai, Sri Aman Division Welfare Officer, Awangku Mohd Najib Pengiran Mohammad and government officials.
