Govt assistance for orphaned siblings
PITAS: Seven orphaned siblings in Pitas, who lost both their parents last month, have received further attention and protection from the government.
Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid visited the siblings yesterday to deliver some assistance.
Jainab said the government has provided assistance to the sibling’s parents ever since they got sick through an elderly assistance programme as the children had lost their dependents.
Meanwhile, the eldest sibling, Fracisca Harul, 17, had quit school and has been working at a bakery shop for three years with a salary of RM800 a month to help raise her six other siblings.
Currently, the seven siblings are staying with their grandmother and also receive help from other relatives as well.
The children, aged between five to 17 years old, lost their mother two years ago followed by their sick father on March 31.
The Social Welfare Department has channelled immediate assistance of RM300 to the orphans while Children Assistance of RM450 monthly would also be provided to Fracisca starting May.
In the meantime, Assistant Industrial Development Minister Datuk Bolkiah Ismail, who is also Pitas assemblyman, said a house will be built for the orphans through the “Touch Point” programme.
The programme will be implemented through the Pitas district office with a provision of RM50,000 in order for these children to have a safe and comfortable home, he said.
Also present were Pitas district officer Bubudan O.T Majalu and heads of the state and federal government.