‘Return posthumous financial aid’
by Georgette Tan, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on January 31, 2012, Tuesday
CLEANING UP ACT: Fatimah (left) fielding questions at the press conference.
KUCHING: Heirs of recipients of financial aid for old folks, Bantuan Orang Tua (BOT) and Bantuan Am (BA) who have died will have to return any posthumous financial aid given by the Sarawak Welfare Department (JKM).
Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said yesterday that it was the responsibility of heirs to report the recipients’ demise to JKM.
“If we review a case and find that the recipient is deceased, their heir will still have to return the money received,” she told a press conference here yesterday.
Last year, 1,530 individuals in the state received assistance, but it was discovered that only 411 of the recipients were still living.
“We will be reviewing all remaining recipients to determine if they still qualify for the federal-funded BOT and state-funded BA financial assistance.”
She added that they would be working closely with the National Registration Department (JPN) to check the status of their recipients. In addition, case workers would also be going to the ground to see what the real household conditions were. Recipients would not be eligible for aid if the household income was above the poverty line, if there was financial support from a family member, if the recipient was able to work, if recipient had moved and cannot be traced, and several other reasons.
The ministry would issue a circular three months before the end of the financial aid duration to recipients and next-of-kin, she added.
Meanwhile, RM99,632,892 was given to the State Welfare Department (or JKM Sarawak) by the federal government to fund state welfare matters and for those in need.
Also present at the press conference was state Welfare Department director Noraini Ahmad.
