Minister: Over 7,000 in S’wak to benefit from ‘Sejambak Kasih CNY 2024’

MIRI: A total of 7,656 welfare aid recipients throughout Sarawak would be receiving contributions in celebration of Chinese New Year 2024.

Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Sarawak Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the beneficiaries of the ‘Chinese New Year 2024 Sejambak Kasih’ programme would comprise 14 per cent of all welfare assistance recipients in the state.

“The total aid amounts to RM765,600.

“This assistance is meant to help those who will be celebrating this festive occasion,” she said in her opening speech for the ‘Sejambak Kasih’ event at Dynasty Hotel here yesterday.

The minister also commended the hotel for collaborating with the Welfare Department in helping those in need.

Fatimah also talked about the data on the distribution of the monthly welfare aid throughout Sarawak in the past year.

“Throughout January to December of 2023, the state Welfare Department disbursed RM254,927,850 to 56,169 welfare recipients statewide.

“The welfare schemes were Bantuan Warga Emas (BWE), Bantuan Kanak-Kanak (BKK), Elaun Pekerja Orang Kurang Upaya (EPOKU), Bantuan Penjagaan OKU, Bantuan OKU Tidak Berupaya Bekerja (BTB), Bantuan Anak Pelihara (BAP), and Bantuan Belia-Beliawanis (BBB).

“Additionally, through these schemes, the Welfare Department here disbursed RM22,301,550 to 4,607 recipients in Miri throughout 2023.

“In January 2024, the department disbursed RM1,848,100 to 4,393 welfare aid recipients in Miri,” she added.

Later at the event, Fatimah handed over a cheque for RM10,000 to Dynasty Hotel managing director Tony Pui, who received it on behalf of the hotel’s charity fund.

Also present were Deputy Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Datuk Rosey Yunus, Miri Hospital director Dr Jack Wong, Temenggong Yong Vui Seng, Penghulu Betty Pong, and Kapitan Aries Leong.

In his remarks, Pui said Dynasty Hotel’s festive goodies giveaway had been held annually for the last 24 years, and organised in collaboration with Miri Welfare Department for 22 years now.

“Every year, this event will cover three main festivities in Sarawak: the Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, and Gawai Dayak.

“In this event, the recipients will not only get monetary aid but also a RM150 hamper filled with essential items like rice, fresh chicken, and dry food,” he said.