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8,828 babies register for EFS

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Fatimah (centre) presents a cheque to an EFS recipient at Wisma Kebajikan in Petra Jaya, Kuching. Photo: Mohd Alif Noni

KUCHING: A total of 8,828 Sarawakian babies who were born this year have registered for the Endowment Fund Sarawak (EFS) 2020.

The number represents 92 percent of the total 9,630 Sarawakian babies born in the first five months of this year.

EFS is an initiative by the state government where every Sarawakian newborn is entitled to RM1,000 which is credited into his/her bank account and can only be withdrawn at the age of 18.

Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said on Friday, the state government had made payments to 8,390 or 95 percent of them.

To qualify, at least one of the baby’s parents must be a Sarawakian. The same applies to foster parents in which either one must hold a ‘K’ status in order for their adopted baby to qualify for EFS as well as having a verified adoption certificate.

The registration can be made at any of the 52 National Registration Department (NRD) branches throughout Sarawak while the EFS is managed by Bank Islam.

This year, the state government has approved RM30 million for the EFS.

As of May 31 this year, Sarawak recorded a total of 10,231 births including 9,630 with ‘K’ status.

Last year, the state recorded 36,117 births of which 33,304 Sarawakian babies with ‘K’ status were eligible to receive EFS. However, only 26,731 (80.26 percent) had registered for EFS.

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