KUCHING: Some 55,184 low-income individuals across Sarawak have received various forms of welfare assistance from both the state and federal governments, with total spending reaching RM98.8 million from January to April this year.

Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the assistance covered various categories of recipients including senior citizens, children, persons with disabilities (OKU), single mothers, bedridden patients, and youths.

“A total of 45,240 recipients received monthly aid under federal allocation based on the national Poverty Line Income (PGK) of RM1,198 per month, while 9,944 recipients received general state assistance based on the state’s PGK of RM990,” she said.

She was responding to a question from Bukit Begunan Assemblyman, Datuk Mong Dagang during the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting on Tuesday.

The breakdown of the assistance is as follows; the Senior Citizens Aid (21,604 recipients involving RM51.3 million), Children’s Aid (6,580 recipients involving RM12,209,700), General Aid (9,935 recipients involving RM8.97 million), OKU Workers’ Allowance ( 3,445 recipients involving RM6.12 million), OKU/Bedridden Patient Care Aid (2,356 recipients involving RM4.64 million), OKU Incapable of Working Aid (11,230 recipients involving RM15.5 million), ‘Bantuan Anak Pelihara’ (25 recipients involving RM29,000), and Youth Aid (9 recipients involving RM3,200).

In addition, Dato Sri Fatimah also informed that a total of 1,323 welfare aid recipients were recorded in the Bukit Begunan constituency alone, with total assistance amounting to over RM622,000.

She further added that her Ministry, through the Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKMS), also encourages productive monthly aid recipients to participate in the Wellbest Entrepreneur Grant programme which offers up to RM5,000 in funding. -UKASnews