By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Jan 9: The youth wing of Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak has urged the Sarawak government to extend the direct disbursement of the Sarawak Basic Needs Assistance Contribution (SKAS) to all eligible groups’ bank accounts.
DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) Sarawak secretary George Lam said he welcomed the recent announcement by Sarawak Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Minister, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, that welfare aid recipients under the Welfare Department would be able to receive SKAS directly via their bank accounts.
“However, I would like to urge that this measure should not be limited to welfare aid recipients but should instead be extended to all eligible groups, allowing everyone to receive the assistance directly through their bank accounts and thus reducing unnecessary troubles,” he said in a statement.
He added that while he supports the Sarawak government’s initiative to use its financial advantages to provide basic necessities assistance, the current system, requiring the public to apply through the SPay app has caused many technical issues.
“Furthermore, if elderly members of a household who qualify for the aid do not own a smartphone, they must purchase one to download the app in order to receive the assistance.
“This essentially adds an extra expense to obtaining the aid, defeating its original purpose,” Lam said.
As such, he called on Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg to reconsider the system as it adds unnecessary difficulties to people’s lives.
He also urged the Sarawak Economic Planning Unit (EPU) to immediately use the existing database of STR recipients in Sarawak to disburse SKAS directly into the bank accounts of all eligible Sarawakians.
“This would better reflect the government’s care for the people and ensure that the assistance truly benefits them,” he said. – DayakDaily
