By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 20: A total of 141,869 Sarawakian children have benefited from the Sarawak Endowment Fund (EFS) since its inception in 2019, with the State government allocating RM141.8 million to support their future.
The fund, established under the leadership of Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, aims to provide financial security for children across the State, ensuring long-term savings and future support for education and personal development.
Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah noted that the high number of children opening EFS accounts reflects the programme’s strong reach and effectiveness in Sarawak communities.
“85% of EFS applications have been successfully processed through Bank Islam and Affin Bank. The total births as of Oct 31, 2025, with K status on identity cards, is 22,895,” she said in a statement following the Endowment Fund Sarawak meeting and minor rural grant cheque presentation at the Ministry’s Office in the Baitulmakmur Building today.
Looking ahead, Fatimah highlighted that the launch of EFS 2.0 in 2025, managed by Affin Bank Berhad for the next five years until 2029, will further strengthen the programme.
“The first batch of payments under EFS 2.0, involving 1,456 eligible recipients, was successfully transferred to Affin Bank on July 18, 2025. As of Nov 17, 2025, Affin Bank has opened 6,287 EFS 2.0 accounts, with total savings reaching RM6.2 million,” she revealed.
She added that the upgraded system, including structured savings accounts, Shariah-compliant gold investment options, and free insurance coverage for parents in the first year, is aimed at boosting the financial security of families while promoting responsible long-term savings.
Fatimah emphasised that the EFS programme is a testament to the Sarawak Government’s commitment to provide every child with a secure financial foundation and greater opportunities in life.
The minister also expressed appreciation to Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad, the original EFS partner since 2019, for its continued support and collaboration in ensuring the programme’s success.
Additionally, Fatimah highlighted that a new EFS and Maternity Assistance (BIB) system, developed by SAINS, is scheduled for full implementation on Jan 1, 2026.
“Through this new system, all applications will be submitted online via the sarawak.gov.my portal and integrated with SarawakPASS, improving transparency, accessibility, and processing efficiency,” she said.
The ministry welcomes this digital empowerment initiative as a major step toward improved service delivery and better data coordination among relevant agencies.
“The new system is expected to support the systematic and user-friendly implementation of EFS 2.0 in the future,” she added. — DayakDaily
