BAU: The monthly welfare assistance recipients in Sarawak have increased from 57,047 in 2017 to 57,588 in 2018.
Up to April this year, there are 56,096 monthly welfare assistance recipients, said State Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Child Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
She attributed the jump in the number of recipients to the efforts of many parties who were concerned about the plight of the less fortunate members of the society.
Fatimah said, “In Sarawak, despite the many races and religions, the people live as a close family of friends.
“The welfare assistance is now reaching the remote and coastal areas of the state.
“The Ministry and the Welfare Department are very grateful to all parties such as community leaders, the media, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and individuals who have provided information on these individuals.”
She reiterated that the state government was committed to helping and alleviating the burdens of the poor and the less fortunate through various welfare schemes and assistance.
Fatimah was speaking at “Majlis Sejambak Kasih Hari Gawai & Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2019, Majlis Penyerahan Endowment Fund Sarawak” at the multi-purpose hall of Kampung Kaman, Krokong Bau here yesterday.
She revealed that from January to April this year, the Sarawak Welfare Department paid monthly assistance amounting to RM67,314,880 to 56,096 recipients.
She explained that the objective of the function was to lighten the financial burdens of the welfare assistance recipients and bring them joy in conjunction with the Hari Gawai and Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.
Recipients present at yesterday’s function received RM100 cash and a food hamper worth RM50 each from Fatimah.
Meanwhile, for those who could not attend the function, the cash will be credited into their accounts together with their monthly assistance.
Fatimah revealed that a total of 31,535 recipients or 56.22 percent of the monthly welfare assistance would receive Hari Gawai contributions while 14, 811 would receive Hari Raya contributions.
At yesterday’s function, 200 recipients received the contributions.
Also present were Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring Assistant Minister Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, Serumbu assemblyman Miro Simuh, Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Henry Harry Jinep and Tanjong Datu assemblywoman Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu.
