‘RM79 mln given out as monthly welfare aid’
KUCHING: The state Welfare Department has so far channelled over RM79 million in monthly aid to 56,800 recipients across the state this year.
Assistant Minister for Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali said this aid, distributed between January and May this year, covered all types of monthly assistance.
“The state government is very caring and sympathetic to the plight of the needy and spends a lot of money in helping them, especially during these trying times, and relieving them from the burden caused by the rising cost of goods,” she spoke at the ‘Majlis Sejambak Kasih Aidilfitri 2017’ in the Samariang Service Centre yesterday.
The welfare aid categories are the old folk, children, general, disabled workers allowance, disabled caretakers, bedridden caretakers, the disabled who are unable to work, and adopted children.
“Kuching alone has 10,274 welfare aid recipients – this shows how much the state government wants to help these target groups.
“At the same time, I urge those who need help to come to the department and apply for the assistance.”
According to Sharifah Hasidah, whoisSamariangassemblywoman, the aid is given based on the poverty line, of which the monthly income threshold is RM990. Those who earn below this amount are eligible for the welfare assistance.
On the Aidilfitri aid, Sharifah Hasidah said 16,412 people in Sarawak had received it. At the event yesterday, 200 individuals comprising senior citizens, the disabled, single mothers and other individuals with special needs received the assistance that consisted of ‘duit raya’ and other goodies. Penghulu Murni Abon was also present at the event.