KUCHING: The government has allocated RM40 million for babies born in the state this year through the Sarawak Endowment Fund (EFS).
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the amount was based on the state’s annual average birth rate statistics.
“As long as the state is well-sustained, everything will be given back to the people, so that everyone will have a bright future,” he said in his speech at the launch and presentation of EFS here yesterday.
A total of 55 couples from around the city with babies who were born from Jan 1 to 7, this year, were celebrated at the event yesterday where they received RM1,000 each.
Johari explained that the Sarawak government was using revenue from oil and gas to fund several projects, including establishing the EFS Sarawakian babies.
He said the RM1,000 incentive, which could only be withdrawn upon attaining the age of 18, was meant for the children’s education.
Citing the case of a single mother who is selling cakes to support four school-going children and a father whose income is barely enough to support his many children, Johari said: “This is the situation faced by our society. They have children who are clever but they are poor.
“There are a lot of situations like these, and even more in the rural areas where the children are clever but because of poverty, they are unable to go to university. Therefore, we must have policies that can assist these people, ” he said.
Johari, quoting statistics, said an average of about 40,000 babies are born in Sarawak yearly.
“The government under my leadership is giving a special allocation of RM40 million a year for Sarawakian babies born in the state,” he said.
“Every Sarawakian newborn will get RM1,000 and as long as I am the chief minister and Sarawak has the fortune, we will give back to the people so that they can have a bright future,” he added.
Meanwhile, he said Sarawak will have bettersocial policies that benefit the people if the staterevenue increases in the future.
He noted that Scandinavian countries and Germany were able to give free education to their people because they had the funds.
