Social security payment for next-of-kin of MH17 passengers and crew, no payment for beneficiaries of MH370 yet
KUCHING: Social Security Organisation (Socso) has paid benefits to most of the beneficiaries of Malaysian Socso contributors who died when Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine on July 17.
Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem said the benefits included funeral expenses of RM1,500 and monthly pensions the quantum of which depended on the income of the deceased.
“Socso officers have worked hard to identify the victim’s next-of-kin since day one of the tragedy,” he said at the closing of Video Journalism Workshop organised by Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA) at Grand Margherita Hotel here on Friday.
Flight MH17, travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down with 283 passengers and 15 crew on board.
“The funeral expenses and first pension at an average of RM2,655 per month has been paid to the next-of-kin or beneficiaries of all of the crew members and five passengers who were covered or contributed to Socso ,” he said.
“It does not matter how long they have contributed, they are entitled to get the full payment just like in the case of Meling Mula from Bintulu. The late Meling contributed to Socso for only six months after he joined a new company but the widow will still get what is due to her late husband,” said Riot.
However, Riot said Socso could not pay out similar benefits to beneficiaries of those on board Malaysia Airlines MH370, which was still missing.
“For missing persons, they can only be declared dead after seven years, according to international laws and the National Fatwa Council.”
“Nothing can be done for now for the next-of-kin of passengers and crew on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 as there is no closure to the tragedy yet.”
He assured that Socso would keep in touch with beneficiaries of those on board MH370 who were covered by its schemes.
Flight MH370, en route to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members, disappeared on March 8 and has not been found since.
Australia which is heading the search, revealed on Friday that underwater hunt for plane would resume at the end of this month. The search area would be further south than initially planned.
The search is expected to take up to a year.