KUCHING: The public continues to be informed by the Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKMS) through text messages to pick up their Kenyalang Gold Cards (KGCs) at the department, while Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) assists JKMS in distributing KGCs yet to be collected by applicants.
SUPP Women chief Kho Teck Wan clarified this in response to Pakatan Harapan (PH) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen’s claim that SUPP was ‘hogging’ the distribution of KGCs but not carrying out the job.
“We had organised larger distribution sessions when Kuching was a green zone and the Covid-19 pandemic was not as severe.
“After Kuching turned red, our speed of distribution slowed down as we changed to house-to-house distribution and calling a few people to collect their cards at our branches one day at a time,” she said in a statement today.
She said SUPP practised strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) at every distribution programme organised, exerting great care and caution as Kuching is currently still a red zone.
“Please keep in mind that the recipients of the KGC are all senior citizens; they are a high-risk group. Should we risk creating a KGC cluster for the mere reason of expediting the distribution?” she questioned.
She said the intention of helping to distribute KGCs was originally to try to send the cards to those who had applied through them, but now it was their responsibility to reduce the risk of exposing senior citizens to the virus and to avoid community infections.
Kho assured that the distribution of KGCs continued on a regular basis at SUPP branches, as seen via their social media postings.
“Instead of blaming SUPP of failure to deliver, I may as well ask Chong as (former) Deputy Minister, where are the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan payment deferment and yearly petroleum bonus promised to Sarawakians when PH was in power?” she said.
Meanwhile, Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah when contacted said she had instructed JKMS to investigate the matter.
