A total of 5,070 (49.14 percent) Sarawakian babies out of the 11,508 babies born from Jan 1 to April 25 this year have registered for the Endowment Fund Sarawak (EFS), said Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah in her winding-up speech.
The minister revealed that 10,317 (89.65 per cent) were Sarawak born babies.
“As announced by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, RM1,000 will be given to all Sarawakian born babies regardless of race, religion and social background,” she said.
Fatimah explained that the objective of the EFS was to assist the children to further their studies or start their careers or small businesses.
“For those born in Sarawak, their parents can apply for EFS at 52 National Registration Department (JPN) offices in Sarawak.
“For those born in other states in Malaysia, the registration form can be obtained at the Sarawak JPN headquarters,” she said.
Fatimah added births outside the country must be registered at the Malaysian Embassy offices to confirm the parents were Malaysian citizens before the applications could be submitted to the Sarawak JPN headquarters.
“The EFS is managed by Bank Islam and the fund can only be withdrawn once the child is 18 years old.
“In the event of death, the next of kin may withdraw the fund for the funeral process,” said Fatimah.
