By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 16: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) has taken a proactive step towards enhancing access to public assistance programmes by becoming the first local council in Sarawak to introduce the Sarawak Government Benefit Open Counter initiative.
MBKS Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng said the initiative enables senior citizens to conveniently apply for the Kenyalang Gold Card (KGC) and the Senior Citizen Health Benefit (SCHB) programme, while students can submit applications for special financial aid under Yayasan Sarawak — all at a single, easily accessible location at the MBKS lobby.
Additionally, the counter offers assistance with inquiries and applications for social welfare support and the Affin Bank Kenyalang Debit Card.
“The Sarawak Government Benefit Open Counter is part of MBKS’s commitment under the Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) and the Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities.
“By establishing this accessible platform, the Council aims to bridge the gap between the public and government-provided benefits, especially for vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly.
“We want to bring services closer to the people. This counter makes it easier for senior citizens and students to apply for benefits without having to navigate complex systems on their own,” he said in a media release today.
MBKS will closely monitor public response to the initiative and is considering offering the open counter service on a weekly basis if demand remains consistent.
This initiative is part of MBKS’s broader efforts to foster a more inclusive, caring, and accessible city for all. — DayakDaily
