Fatimah (fourth left) and Pui on her right present the angpow and goodies to the recipients, witnessed by Joni (fifth left) and others.
MIRI: The Sarawak government is giving out angpows and hampers to 7,318 recipients registered with the Welfare Department under its ‘Sejambak Kasih Tahun Baru Cina 2020’ programme, to help ease the burden of the poor and needy.
Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said Kuching has the largest number of recipients at 2,669, followed by Sibu (1,949), Miri (680), Sarikei (395), Serian (339), Sri Aman (254), Bintulu (252), Samarahan (218), Limbang (177), Mukah (172), Betong (161) and Kapit (52).
“From January to December 2019, the state Welfare Department has disbursed a total of RM183,989,980 to 56,984 recipients under different categories in the state.
“In Miri, the department has disbursed a total of RM13,925,000 for 4,333 recipients for the same period,” she said in her address when launching the programme here, yesterday.
The event saw 150 recipients invited to Dynasty Hotel where they each received an angpow of RM100 and food hamper worth RM50, in addition to Chinese New Year goodies worth RM150 each from the hotel.
Dynasty Hotel has carrying out such programme for the past 20 years as part of its social corporate responsibility, and is in its 18th year collaborating with the Welfare Department office here.
Recipients who were unable to attend the presentation yesterday will have the RM100 angpow credited into their respective account.
Fatimah, meanwhile, took the opportunity to encourage senior citizens in the state, from the age of 60 as of Jan 1 this year, to apply for the Kenyalang Gold Card which will allow them to enjoy special privileges and discounts on a wide range of services offered by participating vendors.
She also reminded Sarawakian parents to take the opportunity to apply for the Endowment Fund Sarawak (EFS) initiative, and for mothers who are 22-weeks pregnant to start applying for the RM450 post-natal care assistance.
“The deadline to apply for the post-natal care assistance is three months after giving birth,” she said.
Welfare Department acting director Joni Nuruddin, Dynasty Hotel managing director Tony Pui, Miri Mayor Adam Yii were among those present at the event.