Incentives for housewives, single mothers to increase in 2023

A TOTAL of 127,412 women from the vulnerable groups have benefitted from the Kasih Suri Keluarga Malaysia or previously known as i-Suri programme, said Minister of Women, Children and Community Wellbeing Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah.

Sarawak recorded the highest number of participation in Kasih Suri Keluarga Malaysia, thanks to the contribution of RM7.64 million by the state government, she during her ministerial winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly here yesterday.

According to her, the Kasih Suri Keluarga Malaysia programme aims to ensure the wellbeing of housewives in recognition of their contribution to their families and national development.

She said the minimum contribution of RM60 through the Kasih Suri Keluarga Malaysia programme qualifies the contributor to receive full incentive of RM480 per annum from the federal government as well as incentive from the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF).

For the same programme in 2023, she said the Sarawak government has set aside a total of RM4.2 million which is expected to benefit some 70,000 participants.

Fatimah also announced that 590 female heads of household or single mothers have benefited from the Female Head of Household Micro Assistance (KIRWaS) this year.

“KIRWaS Micro Assistance is cash assistance to female heads of household or single mothers where recipients receive RM500 each and this aid is intended to generate or increase their income,” she said.

The ministry, she added, has increased its KIRWaS Micro Assistance allocation from RM295,000 in 2022 to RM500,000 in 2023 to benefit some 1,000 female heads of household or single mothers.