7,371 receive ‘Sejambak Kasih’ angpow, hampers
KUCHING: To lighten the burden of those celebrating Chinese New Year (CNY), the state government is giving out angpow and hampers to 7,371 recipients throughout the state via the ‘ Sejambak Kasih’ (Bouquet of Love) programme.
Kuching recorded the largest group with 2,853 recipients among all the 12 divisions followed by Sibu (2,061), Miri (651), Sarikei (456), Bintulu (238), Sri Aman (223), Limbang (220), Samarahan (175), Betong (159), Serian (150), Mukah (145) and Kapit (40).
In a symbolic launch of the programme on Friday, 200 recipients were invited to a leading hotel here to receive their RM100 angpow and a food hamper worth RM50 each from the Minister of Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing Datuk Fatimah Abdullah.
“The remaining recipients in Kuching who are not invited today (yesterday) will see the RM100 angpow being credited to their respective bank accounts,” said Fatimah, who is also Dalat assemblywoman.
According to her, the angpow will act as a supplement on top of the recipients’ monthly welfare aid.
On another note, as of January to December 2016, the Social Welfare Department of Sarawak (JKMNS) has disbursed a total of RM190,715,550 to 57,047 recipients under different categories in the state.
In Kuching, 10,136 recipients received a total of RM32,525,650 within the same period.
Meanwhile, starting this month the state government will improve the assistance for victims of natural disasters to include additional goods and items, allocation of house rent
— Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, Minister of Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing
not exceeding RM5,000 and a 100 per cent increase to the current assistance rate.
“This assistance is to lighten the burden of the victims and is not to cover the damages from the natural disaster,” Fatimah added.