SEDC deputy general manager Rakayah Hamdan (sixth left) and Abang Johari (seventh left) present a mock cheque to a representative of local cottage industry operator as others look on.
SARIKEI: Various ministries and agencies received RM2.340 million to assist the less fortunate people during the National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS) Fiesta here from April 13 to 15.
The presentation of mock cheques by representatives of the ministries and agencies concerned to the beneficiaries was witnessed by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg after he declared open the fiesta last Saturday.
Of the amount, RM20,000 came from the Ministry of Finance to assist hardcore poor in Sarikei, Meradong, Julau and Pakan districts; RM596,000 from the Ministry of Education’s Poor Students Trust Fund for poor students in Sarikei Division; RM440,000 from Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) to assist cottage industry operators; RM50,000 from Petronas to be equally shared among Sarikei Perkim Women Section, Sarikei Muslim Converts Secretariat; Community-Based Rehabilitation Centre Sarikei, Julau and Pakan; RM1,234,000 from the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development for increasing the income and repairing houses of the poor in Sarikei and Meradong districts.
The ceremony also witnessed the presentation of assistance under Programme Perumahan Mesra Rakyat 1Malaysia from Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad; Temporary Occupational Licence to three village headmen from Meradong and reappointment letters to community leaders, longhouse chiefs and village headmen.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, Treasury Secretary-General Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah, Second Finance Minsiter Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, and State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani were among those present.