Fadillah: S’wakians in peninsula, Sabah, Labuan receive state aid

KUCHING: The Sarawak government, through Sarawak Volunteers and Sarawak Home in Kuala Lumpur, has reached out to a total of 26,021 Sarawakians including 20,916 students in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Labuan since the Movement Control Order (MCO) was enforced in March last year.

Sarawak Volunteers patron Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said among the assistance offered were bringing home Sarawakian students who were stranded and providing them temporary shelter and food during the various MCO periods.

Giving a breakdown, he said: “A total of 17,954 Sarawakians including 17,739 students received the assistance during MCO 1.0 while another 2,475 Sarawakians including 2,018 students received similar assistance during MCO 2.0.

“During this MCO 3.0, a total of 5,592 Sarawakians including 1,159 students have received the assistance,” he said in a statement when prompted for comments yesterday.

Fadillah, who is Works Minister, said they had also extended assistance to Sarawakians who are facing difficulties during this Covid-19 pandemic.

He said a total of 704 Sarawakians had received various assistance worth RM431,356 from the Sarawak government since the first MCO last year in the form of weekly assistance (cases that have been referred to hospitals in Sarawak), other assistance including accommodation, food and air tickets, and delivery of remains.

For the weekly assistance, a total of 115 Sarawakians received aid totalling RM54,060 last year while 89 others were assisted between January and July 9 this year, involving an allocation of RM41,970.

Under other assistance, a total of 418 Sarawakians received aid amounting to RM67,738 last year and another 67 received assistance amounting to RM32,337 in the first seven months of this year.

On the delivery of remains, Fadillah said 54 bodies of Sarawakians had been brought home last year at a total cost of RM168,400 and 21 bodies since earlier this year at a total cost of RM66,850.

The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) parliamentary chief whip said he had been having discussions with Sarawakians in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Labuan since the MCO was first imposed last year.

Fadillah said he had taken note of the difficulties they are facing and will take actions necessary to address their problems.

He also took the opportunity to thank the representatives of various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who had reached out to Sarawakians during this pandemic.

The Sarawak government and GPS MPs set up an operation centre, Sarawak Home in Kuala Lumpur, after the enforcement of MCO 1.0 to help Sarawakians outside the state.

Sarawakians in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Labuan who need help during this pandemic can call the care-line of Sarawak Home in Kuala Lumpur and Sarawak Volunteers on 01157505389, 011-57505379, 011-69285673 or 016-8945579 between 8.30am and 5.30pm daily.

A total of 17,954 Sarawakians including 17,739 students received the assistance during MCO 1.0 while another 2,475 Sarawakians including 2,018 students received similar assistance during MCO 2.0. Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof