487,185 given welfare aid last year — Chew
PENAMPANG: Malaysians should use the government’s welfare assistance to get them out of the poverty line in the country.
Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Senator Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun stressed the assistance should not be solely depended upon as it would not last for a lifetime.
Therefore, the aid should be perceived as an opportunity for those eligible group to get out of poverty so that the government can continue to distribute assistance to other needy people in the country, she explained.
“The assistance is only given to people who need it and those meeting the required conditions, such as families below the poverty line,” said Chew, who is also a vice president of MCA.
“Therefore, we encourage all beneficiaries to try and be independent, try to get a job that will enable them to be independent,” she added when launching the Penampang public welfare assistance service and registration program at Wisma Kinsabina here yesterday.
In addition, the deputy minister said not all assistance comes in the form of financial aid but depends on the type of circumstances.
“Maybe the issue does not involve financial problems, it could be emotional or health problems and educational needs of children,” said Chew.
“We will not only provide financial assistance, but have also set up counselling services in all of the ministry’s agencies, including JKM (Malaysia Welfare Department), LPPKN (The National Population and Family Development Board), and JPW (Women’s Development Department) to identify the type of assistance needed,” she added.
Chew reminded that all approved assistance goes through stringent filtering, will be reviewed annually and eligible candidates are reminded to reapply for it so that it would be continued.
“Not everyone that comes will necessarily get the assistance. After the application is made, the welfare officer will visit your homes to investigate,” Chew said.
“The application will only be considered after investigations have been completed, in order to determine its eligibility and the kind of assistance needed,” she added.
She also affirmed the government’s commitment in rendering assistance to the right targeted group despite the volatile economic climate.
“In 2015, a total of 487,185 people received welfare assistance with an allocation of RM1.52 billion. Of this amount, a total of 57,283 people were JKM beneficiaries from Sabah with an allocation of RM178 million,” said Chew.
“For the year 2016, RM1.14 billion was allocated to recipients of welfare aid,” she said.
According to the ministry, recent statistics revealed that 77,226 persons received child assistance, three received child guardianship assistance, 27,852 assistance for old folks, 998 received employees with disabilities allowance; 2,432 for bedridden disabled individuals; 280 received assistance for OKU who cannot work, 18,366 received general assistance and 126 received artificial equipment assistance.
Organizing chairman, MCA Penampang Division Women chief and Penampang council member Judy Hiew, said the inaugural program was held to provide a one-stop place for Penampang folks to apply and check whether they were eligible for various government assistance schemes.
This includes the registration for disabled individuals, disabled employees allowance, as well as schemes for old folks and single mothers.
“Before this, MCA Penampang Division had received a lot of feedback from the Penampang or Moyog and Kepayan areas, regarding the attainment of welfare assistance from the government,” said MCA Sabah deputy chairman and Penampang Division chairman Datuk Francis Goh.
“But many have also expressed that they do not know how to apply for the assistance, the advantages and the guidelines as well as their eligibility to obtain the allocation from the Barisan Nasional government,” he explained.
“It is the first time that this is being held here, a counter for the convenience of the people in Penampang so they can avoid the hassle of going to the city, and be able to communicate their queries to officers, senior officials, and even the deputy minister,” Goh added.
Goh revealed that more than 200 people visited the 10 counters set up during the program yesterday.
Also present at the launch were Penampang District Officer Luvita Koisun, Sabah Welfare Services Department Assistant Director Zulkiflie Hassan, LPPKN Director Nurfarhana Lee Mohd Zulkif lee Lee, UTC Kota Kinabalu senior citizens activity center chairman cum MCA Penampang Division Welfare Bureau chief Wong Hoong Shyn, Umno Penampang Division Women head Noraini Idris, MCA presidential council member and Sabah MCA state adviser Datuk Paul Kong, Luyang assemblyperson Dr Hiew King Cheu, MCA Sabah Women head Datuk Agnes Shim, as well as MCA Penampang Division treasurer and Penampang Council member Datuk Gerald Goh.