FOR YOU: Noriah (centre) gives the aid to an old folk.
SIBU: Sixteen out of the 85 residents of Sri Kenangan Sibu received Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) from Welfare Department state director Noriah Ahmad on Thursday night.
She also presented a hearing aid to Tiong Mang Ching, an artificial limb to Martin Tan Chai San and a wheelchair each to Stephen Yii and Rintau Mancha.
According to Noriah, until April 30 this year, 55 disabled individuals in the state had been given such one-off assistance which included walking sticks, contact lens and spectacles.
“These things are not cheap. An artificial limb costs between RM3,200 and RM4,750 while a wheelchair between RM350 and RM1,200.
“It is between RM1,600 and RM3,800 for a hearing aid,” she pointed out.
Noriah represented Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah at the presentation ceremony.
She said the Welfare Department provided various forms of assistance to people with disabilities and old folks to improve their quality of life.
On the presentation of BR1M, she said: “We’ve come here because we know that it is not convenient for many to travel.
“Bringing the BR1M to you spares you from the hassle of having to vie with others to get the assistance,” she said.
Meanwhile, citing the 2010 Population and Housing Census of Malaysia report, she said Selangor had the highest number of senior citizens at 334,289. Perak 280,118, Johor 278,028 and Sarawak 211,181.
Also present at the function was assistant director of Social Welfare Department Sibu, Mohammad Guntor Rajaee.