Sarawak raises aid for the needy

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General assistance rate up by 150 pct and assistance period doubled, food ration increases by 87.5 pct

KUCHING: The State Cabinet has agreed to increase the general assistance for people with disabilities and incapable of working, on two fronts.

Also given the nod is a hike in food ration for individuals in four welfare institutions.

Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said the cabinet had on Thursday approved the rate for general assistance from RM60 to RM150.

The last revision was done in 2000, she said before launching Home-Help Services programme at Yayasan Sarawak here yesterday.

“We submitted a cabinet paper on this, and the monthly rate of RM150 approved is just the minimum. The maximum rate is RM250.”

The period of general assistance has also been increased, from the current one year to two years. This means it would benefit more people.

Fatimah said the extension was necessary because it was found there was not much change in the economic status of those who received assistance from the Welfare Department for a year.

“There is very little change in their economic gap. Another reason is the ratio of welfare officers dealing with those receiving general assistance in the district level is very big.

“Hence, it was deemed more practical if they were given two years to enable these officers to study each case properly.”

For food ration, the current rate is RM8 per day, and it has been increased to RM15.

“The last revision was in 2005. It is very practical in the current economic situation to increase the rate as prices of goods have increased.”

Fatimah said there were four welfare institutions under the Welfare Department with 183 residents, even though its capacity is 350.

The increase in food ration would benefit Datuk Ajibah Abol Children Home in Sri Aman, Rumah Sri Kenangan in Sibu and Kuching, and a rehabilitation centre in Samarahan.

Fatimah said there were five more institutions in the state, but they were under the Federal Ministry of Women and Community Development (federal).

She hoped the rate approved by the state cabinet would be emulated by the federal government, especially for the five welfare intuitions under their care.

The cabinet also agreed the guideline and criteria for poverty level now be revised to RM830 by the head of the household. Since 2000, the figure was RM425.

It also approved The Sarawak Chinese Schools Trustable Fund. It will come into force this year, and the beneficiaries are private Chinese schools in Sarawak registered under the Education Act 1966.

On the Home-Help Services, Fatimah said the Welfare Department had taken initiative to expand its implementation.

“They work with voluntary welfare organisations and volunteers who are registered with the Welfare Department.”

The programme was introduced in Malaysia in 1994. It was a smart partnership between the Welfare Department and volunteers to reach out to old folk that needed help.

In 2011, 915 in the country benefitted from this service which involved 207 volunteers from Majlis Pusat Kebajikan Semanjung Malaysia (MPKSM) and Persatuan USIAMAS Malaysia (USIAMAS).

Among those present at the event yesterday were Assistant Minister of Welfare Robert Lawson Chuat Vincent and State Welfare Department director Noriah Ahmad.yesterday. With her are, among others, Robert (right) and Noriah (third right).