By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Nov 21: A total of RM3.2 million has been allocated for setting up a one-stop centre for the vulnerable and victims, as well as setting up community centres for the homeless and those with special needs.
RM500,000 has been put aside for the setting up of the Safe Haven for Homeless and Displaced Communities Centres in Bintulu and Miri, a transit shelter to provide assistance and protection among individuals and families involved in social problems.
Another half a million is also allocated for the initial works to set up the Special Needs Community Centre (SNCC), a functional, well-integrated, and one-stop community centre for special needs communities.
“The concept moulded for this SNCC will be the first in Malaysia,” said Abang Johari when tabling the Sarawak Budget 2023 at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) today.
Another RM2.2 million is set aside for the use of setting up a Community Social Support Centre (CSSC) that functions as a one-stop centre for social issues, problems, and interventions for the disadvantaged, vulnerable and marginalised families and individuals who are facing addiction, homelessness, divorce, marriage, personal identification, and other social issues.
Meanwhile, the Sarawak Budget 2023 will enhance protection for women, children, senior citizens, and the unfortunate by providing safety net programmes with a total allocation of RM133.45 million.
Among the allocations, Bantuan Am and Bantuan Bencana are the largest, at RM52 million. Free Water Programme is allocated RM21 million, while Post-Naval Care Assistance takes up RM12 million.
Another RM12 million is set aside for Kenyalang Gold Card as Death Compassionate Assistance for 4,000 beneficiaries of the elderly aged 60 and above.
Endowment Fund Sarawak has been allocated RM10 million, while the same amount is set aside to give financial assistance to needy house owners for payment of electricity connection charges.
RM4.2 million has been designated as a special grant for Kasih Suri Keluarga Malaysia that will benefit widows and single women registered under the National Poverty Database (eKasih) system.
“Presently, a total of 127,412 women in Sarawak have benefited, the highest in the nation,” said Abang Johari.
As much as RM3.75 million is allocated for Low Income Household Empowering Programmes (e-Life) to assist 750 recipients towards uplifting their income through small business ventures by providing them with starter kits and entrepreneurship skills, while RM3.5 million will be used for awareness and intervention programmes for community wellbeing programmes.
Another RM2 million is put aside as Bantuan Pesakit Buah Pinggang (BPBP) to assist kidney patients undergoing treatment and purchase more haemodialysis machines. — DayakDaily
