MUKAH: State Welfare Department (SWD) had channelled funds amounting to more than RM63 million for its monthly recipients throughout the state of Sarawak from January to April 2017.
“SWD has presented a total of RM63,602,650 to benefit 56,900 monthly assistance recipients throughout the state of Sarawak from January to April this year,” said Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development (MWCWFC) Datuk Hajah Fatimah Abdullah.
And from that amount, she added, a total of RM4,196,750 was channelled to 3,719 monthly assistance recipients in Mukah Division throughout that period.
She also pointed out that the state government had increased the poverty guiding line of the household income of the recipient from the previous RM830 to RM990 for this year onwards and also a 100 per cent increase for the 2017 Sarawak Disaster Assistance Scheme.
Fatimah also disclosed that the number of SWD monthly recipients kept on increasing from one year to another.
“From 56,621 recipients in the year 2015, and increasing to 57,047 in 2016, and as of April this year, the total number of recipients stood at 56,900. The increase is mainly due to the tireless effort undertaken by the caring parties towards the less fortunate in our midst and various initiatives undertaken by the department to register new recipients. Our welfare assistance service had reached to all nooks and corners of the state,” said the minister.
She attributed it to the caring society like community leaders, media, NGOs and individuals who channelled the information of the needy in our midst which eventually helped reduce the hardship faced by the recipients.
Fatimah stated this in her speech at the assistance presentation called Majlis Sejambak Kasih Hari Gawai 2017(Bouquet of Love)’ held at Rh. Mawar, Nanga Pedada, near here yesterday.
On the recipients of the Sejambak Kasih in the state, she disclosed that 55.72 per cent of the monthly recipients from department were those who celebrated Gawai Dayak.
“Bear in mind that this Sejambak Kasih js held during Gawai Dayak, Christmas, Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Aidilfitri. In fact, the most number of the Sejambak Kasih recipients are during the Gawai Dayak with a total of 31,706 or 55.72 per cent of the total monthly recipients in the state. And just for the information Sejambak Kasih is only available in Sarawak, not in other states in the country,” disclosed Fatimah.
From the total of 31,706 recipients for Sejambak Kasih Gawai Dayak 2017, Sibu Division was the highest with 5,442 recipients, Sri Aman(3,733), Kuching(3,335), Kapit(2,948), Bintulu(2,634), Serian(2,582), Miri(2,538), Betong(2,490), Limbang(2,258), Sarikei(1,778), Samarahan(1,243), and Mukah(728).
At the function, only one hundred from Mukah Division were invited to receive the Sejambak Kasih contribution.
“Today, we only invite one hundred, while the rest would be deposited direct to their respective savings account. Sejambak Kasih contribution is an extra RM100 from their monthly assistance, with the only difference that those who received at the Sejambak Kasih event would get the hamper valued at RM50 each,” added Fatimah.
Meanwhile, Tellian State Assemblyman, Yussibnosh Balo, who also spoke at the function announced a grant of RM1,000 each, to seventy-seven longhouses in the constituency meant for celebrating the Gawai Dayak festival.
The longhouse chief Cr Mawar ak Awang, in his welcoming speech hoped the government would address whatever relevant matters forwarded by the local community leaders.
Among those present at the function were the Ministry’s permanent secretary Dr Saadiah Bt Abdul Samat; SWD Director, Haji Abang Shamshudin B. Abang Seruji; Mukah Resident Awang Johari Awang Mostapha; Mukah District Officer, Shafrie Saili; Dalat District Officer, Kueh Lei Poh; heads of departments and local community leaders.
caption: THE recipients posing with Fatimah and other guests at the function.
