BY JACINTHA JOLENE
Spreading the festive spirit
KUCHING: Some 100 persons who attended Sejambak Kasih programe here on Wednesday (Jan 26) each received RM100 and a hamper worth RM80 for the coming Chinese New Year celebration.
The charity event, which was organised by the Social Welfare Department Kuching Division aimed to ease the financial burdens of the needy especially in view of the festivity.
This programme also aims to improve the quality of life among underprivileged families with a total of 6,106 recipients registered throughout the state.
Other recipients who could not make it to the physical event will receive the aid via bank transfer.
Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Well-being Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said she was delighted that the programme was able to be executed physically, as compared to the previous year.
Fatimah also shared that for this year, the ministry would rebrand the Samarahan Rehabilitation Centre to Special Needs Centre of Excellence.
“From this rebranding too, we will provide training to empower the people with special needs, to make them more economically independent and unleash their potential.
“There will be more courses offered and new facilities added for the centre,” she said at the event on Wednesday (Jan 26).
Fatimah will officiate at the first Homeless Transit Point (TTG) in Sibu tomorrow.
“Soon, Kuching will follow suit as it is still under renovation process. The project will be completed by the end of the year.
“The TTG project will be expanded to Bintulu and Miri next. This is to ensure that we live in a socially inclusive society,” she stated.
According to previous report, since Jan until Dec 2021, the department has spent RM243,162,850 for 52,363 registered recipients in its monthly aid statewide.
Households earning below the income poverty line for Sarawak has also increased from RM1,020 to RM1,169 starting Jan 1 this year.
Also present at the event were SUPP Batu Lintang Branch chairman Sih Hua Tong, director of Social Welfare Department Sarawak Noriah Ahmad, deputy Resident of Kuching Division Mackos Sabong and Pemanca Datuk John Diong Tak Chong.
Fatimah also took the opportunity to extend her Chinese New Year wishes to those celebrating the occasion and hoped that this festive season brings joy and happiness.
