72 join last leg of 1Malaysia Welfare Tour
KUCHING: A total of 72 participants are taking part in the last leg of the 1Malaysia Welfare Tour, which began here yesterday.
Travelling in 13 cars, one van, and on two motorcycles, the group would also cover Samarahan and Betong.
Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, who f lagged off the tour, said welfare and wellbeing are always on the government’s priority list, and the Welfare Department is always reaching out to those in need.
“Welfare is personally close to my heart and is something I want to give serious attention to. So any service we offer is the best for the people,” she said.
“The objective of the tour is still the same, to reach out, find and help the needy, and, at the same time, can inform the public that the government via the department is always finding ways to reach the people in need of our help.
“We can’t just sit in the office, we need to do outreach programmes.”
She said at present 57,000 receive monthly welfare aid but added there are likely more who don’t know where to go to apply for the aid, or how to fill in the relevant forms.
“We hope the public will know what are the services offered by the department through this programme,” she said.
Among those present were Ministry of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development permanent secretary Dr Saadiah Abdul Samat and Welfare Department director Abang Shamshudin Abang Seruji.