By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, March 26: Proactive measures to identify individuals who have yet to receive welfare assistance must be strengthened at the community level to ensure that no one is left behind.
In a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Dato Sri Nancy Shukri noted that some eligible individuals remain unregistered in the Social Welfare Department (JKM) system, highlighting the need for active involvement from community leaders, local authorities, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to identify those in need.
“I urge village leaders to pay attention to their surroundings, as there are still residents who have not received assistance and are financially vulnerable.
“Please inform the nearest JKM office. These offices exist in every district, but we cannot visit every home, so we may not know the real situation. That’s why the role of community leaders, whether from political parties, NGOs, or local associations, is crucial in relaying information to JKM so aid can reach those who need it. The department will investigate and process the applications,” she added.
Her remarks came during the “Ziarah Kasih” visit at Kampung Tabuan Lot today, which involved distributing aid to three recipients, including one individual who had never received any support before.
Each recipient received RM500 in cash from the Santubong Parliamentary Office, RM300 from the National Welfare Foundation, two wheelchairs, and a festive food basket in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Nancy, who is also Santubong MP, emphasised that identifying underserved groups cannot rely solely on government agencies.
“Local communities play a critical role in ensuring information is shared promptly and accurately,” she added.
She further revealed that as of January 2026, a total of 556,521 assistance cases had been disbursed nationwide, involving RM252 million in allocations. Of these, 165,944 recipients were elderly citizens, while 251,132 were persons with disabilities (OKU). — DayakDaily
