Poverty refers to not having enough money to meet basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter. However, poverty is more than not having enough money. The World Bank Organisation describes poverty as being in the state of perpetual hunger and lacking shelter.
 
Back in July 2022, Parliament was told that more than 97,000 households in Sarawak were living in poverty, of which 39,858 were deemed hardcore poor. And according to Statistics Department, as of July last year, Sarawak was the region with the thirds-highest poverty rate at 10.8 per cent after Sabah (19.7%) and Kelantan (13.2%).
 
However, last year, Federal Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister, Datuk Rubiah Wang revealed that Sarawak has successfully halved its poverty rate, with the number of individuals registered under the eKasih database dropping from 112,000 to 58,000.
 
The Kota Samarahan MP attributed the achievement to targeted federal government initiatives, such as the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) programmes, along with focused efforts to enhance income levels.
 
And in recent news report, Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said, a special task force has been established by her ministry to work with longhouse chiefs, district officers and village committees in identifying hardcore poor family in Sarawak.
 
Through the initiative, Dato Sri Fatimah hoped the number of people living in hardcore poverty by 2026 would be halved from the identified households listed under eKasih database as of May last year
 
Realising on this urgency of this pressing issue, Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg has announced the Sumbangan Keperluan Asas Sarawak (SKAS) to provide the necessary assistance to those in dire needs.
 
According to Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari, with an allocation of RM450 million under Sarawak’s 2025 Budget, SKAS will ensure that every household in Sarawak will have sufficient food supplies, enabling children to attend school in good health and energy, ready to gain knowledge for a brighter future. Under this program, some 850,000 Sarawakians are expected to benefit from the initiative.
 
The Premier reiterated that SKAS reflected the Sarawak Government’s commitment to share its prosperity with its people, a result of collective efforts that have led to progress.
 
In order to ensure that the targeted groups will receive the assistance, the Premier has directed that payment will be made through S PAY Global app, a digital platform. This is done to ensure that the financial assistance is not diverted to other use.
 
“Through digital platforms, we can deliver public services more efficiently, ensuring no one is left behind. This is our promise and determination: to continue building together, advancing forward, and creating a better future for the people of Sarawak,” said Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari at the Majlis Amanat Perdana Premier Sarawak at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on January 13, 2025.
 
At the same function, Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki revealed that as of January 12, 398,942 SKAS applications had been received, representing 45 per cent of the target. The beneficiaries include Sarawakians who received the STR Phase 4.
 
He further explained that SKAS is a financial assistance programme specifically for Sarawakians holding the ‘K’ status on their identification cards, and the digital financial assistance is expected to benefit over 850,000 Sarawakians.
 
Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar stressed that for those eligible for SKAS but not listed as recipients, online applications will be open from February 1 to March 31 this year.
 
According to the Sarawak Government website, SKAS is a financial assistance programme provided to low-income groups in Sarawak through digital vouchers. These vouchers will be credited to the recipients via the S PAY Global app (e-Wallet) for the purchase of essential food items. The assistance value ranges from RM250 to RM800, depending on the recipient’s category as stated below:
 
Household Category with income of RM5,000 and below will receive RM800.
Single Category with income of RM2,500 and below will receive RM250; and
Senior Citizen Category with income of RM5,000 and below will receive RM400.
 
SKAS will be launched in Serian on February 18, 2025, and the recipients will receive their assistance though the S PAY Global account thereafter.-UKASnews