Fatimah (fifth left) witnesses the submission of KGC application forms from Kho (fourth left) to Irine. Also seen are Tan (second left) and Foo (front, second right).
KUCHING: The Ministry of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development will enhance the benefits under its Kenyalang Gold Card (KGC) programme.
Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah says this is to enable the KGC to benefit not just the elderly folk in the urban areas, but also their counterparts in the rural and remote parts of Sarawak.
At present, the majority of the KGC’s strategic partners are offering rebates and discounts that are available in major urban areas in Sarawak.
“We will look into this matter, particularly in working with strategic partners in rural areas to provide rebates and discounts to cardholders in these areas.
“It is still in the process before the official launch, and we are open to suggestions or recommendations from the public to further enhance the system,” she told reporters after witnessing the submission of KGC application forms from a Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) representative to the Welfare Department Sarawak, at her office here yesterday.
The official launch of the KGC is set for this March 7, in connection with ‘Sarawak Women X-Symposium: Global Innovative Entrepreneurship Programme’, which will be launched by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Adding on, Fatimah said her ministry, through the Welfare Department Sarawak, had been working extra hours to compile all the data into the system.
She hoped that this process could be completed as soon as possible so that the cards could be issued to the applicants more quickly.
“It may not be possible to do it all at one time, but we aim to deliver the KGC cards to some of the applicants during the launch at Borneo Kuching Convention Centre on March 7,” she said.
As of Feb 13 this year, 87,953 KGC applications have been received – with Kuching still recording the most number of applications, at 23,366.
During the submission yesterday, 1,689 application forms were from SUPP Batu Kawah service centre, while 1,632 applications were from SUPP Pending.
Welfare Department Sarawak head of social support services Irine Andrew Ganggang, political secretary to chief minister Tan Kai, SUPP Women chief Kho Teck Wan and SUPP Youth secretary Milton Foo were also present.