SARIKEI: A total of 8,135 individuals or 14 percent of the total aid recipients in Sarawak will receive contributions in conjunction with Chinese New Year 2025, totaling RM813,500 through the Sejambak Kasih Programme.

Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the Sejambak Kasih Programme in conjunction with the festive season is an initiative of the Sarawak Social Welfare Department by implementing the provision of donations of RM100 and festive hampers totalling RM80 to aid recipients for more than 20 years.

“The financial aid presented today aims to bring cheer to recipients of monthly welfare assistance across various schemes, while for other Chinese recipients, the additional contribution will be credited directly into their respective bank accounts,” she said.

She spoke to officiate the Sejambak Kasih Programme in conjunction with Chinese New Year 2025 at the Sarikei Innovation Centre (SIC) on Monday.

Dato Sri Fatimah explained that the Sarikei Division Social Welfare Office has recorded a total of 546 Chinese monthly welfare recipients identified in the Sarikei Division.

However, due to physical and mobility limitations, only 100 eligible Chinese recipients were invited to attend the event.

“The remaining recipients will receive their contributions via their bank accounts, which is expected to help ease their burden and bring joy as they celebrate their major festive season, with a total sum of RM20,705,” she added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, Dato' Sri Huang Tiong Sii also presented a contribution of RM50 to each of the 100 recipients present, represented by Pemanca Chan Phan Chan.

Also present were Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier's Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations), Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, Deputy Director of the Sarawak Social Welfare Department, Noorhayati Abdul Rahman, Sarikei Division Social Welfare Officer, Uwieng Gimos, Heads of Departments, as well as Community Leaders and Village Chiefs (KMKK). -UKASnews