Socso compensates Mazlan’s family 13 years after his death
KUCHING: Survivors of Mazlan Sapiee who died during a robbery at the State Library in 2004 succeeded in their claim for compensation under Socso’s ( Social Security Organisation) Survivor Pension Scheme.
The compensation was paid out at his family home at Kampung Bintawa Tengah yesterday.
Mazlan was survived by his father Sapiee Suip and four older siblings, including Rahani Sapiee, 43, an administration assistant.
Socso also paid out RM1,500 for funeral benefits and pension scheme plus interest amounting to RM21,664.25 from the date of death right up to February this year, including benefits from his mother’s death in 2006. In addition, Sapiee will receive RM123.60 per month from the pension scheme.
“A few months following his death, I went to Socso office to claim the benefits but was told to get all his pay slips - from when he started working to when he resigned to study at Kolej Komuniti. As it has been many years, the company could not entertain the request. I went back to Socso to inform them and was told that it was not possible to proceed with the claims without the pay slips, so I decided to forget about it,” said Rahani.
She thought there was probably not much in the Socso account as her brother had worked as an office boy for 2- 3 years only.
Recently however a friend of Rahani informed her that she could still make a claim eventhough her brother had died 13 years ago, prompting her to go back to Socso to apply for the claim.
“I am grateful and thankful to Socso for arranging for the claims. Now I can inform everyone I know that they can still make a claim for death years later. I told my dad to go for the haj with the money received, and pray for my late brother so that his spirit will be at peace.”
Sosco deputy State director Dundang Undong said old cases could be checked to find if still eligible for payout. For the Survivor Pension Scheme, there is no time limit after the death to make a claim.
“The cheque we are presenting today is RM1,500 for funeral benefits and Survivor Pension Scheme first interest payment of RM21,664.25 for Mazlan and his mother. His father Sapiee went to Socso office on March 16 to present the claim form. The funeral benefits were approved the same day, while the survivor pension scheme approved on March 21.”
He said this was the second case of death that occurred quite a long time ago - the first case a death 23 years ago. Socso senior executive officer Asmawati Ahmad Moghni was present at the handover.
During that fatal incident, Mazlan and his girlfriend were accosted at the library and relieved of their wallets and handphones. Both were beaten unconscious but the girl regained consciousness and was brought to hospital by passing motorists.
She called Mazlan’s family from hospital to inform them about the incident. Mazlan’s father and a group of villagers found his body under a tree after searching the grounds of the library.