By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, March 7: The state Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Ministry has launched its iSarawakCare Mobile Apps.
Its minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the initiative, in collaboration with the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA), was to digitalise all its major services into an online application.
The app will include information on government assistance through the ministry, she added.
“The government is moving forward, focusing on innovation, quality, accessibility and efficiency for the benefits of its citizens. Under our ministry, beginning with high impact services that will go online, and followed by many more to come.
“This will enable faster delivery of services to Sarawakians,” she said when launching the Sarawak Women X: Global Innovative Entrepreneurship, held in conjunction with International Women’s Day, at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching today.
Fatimah added that upon registering the apps, citizens will be notified of all types of eligible grants or assistance under the ministry over their lifespan.
The ministry also launched the Kenyalang Gold Card (KGC) for Sarawakians senior citizens at the symposium, which was officiated by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Fatimah said her ministry has received 133,342 applications for KGC as of March 4. The number represented 40 per cent out of the estimated total number of senior citizens, which amounted to 334,500 in Sarawak this year.
She said 17,000 KGC have been printed and her ministry will distribute them with the help of government and non-governmental organisations including Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP), Kuching South City Council (MBKS) and Sarawak Women and Family Council (MWKS).
“The state government has approved RM24.49 million for the implementation of KGC, a new initiative for senior citizens this year,” Fatimah said.
As for other welfare assistance provided by the ministry such as Endowment Fund Sarawak (EFS), she disclosed that there were 5,601 newborn in Sarawak as at Feb 29 this year and out of that number, 4,969 newborn or 89 per cent, have registered for EFS.
Fatimah said the percentage of those who applied for EFS in the first two months this year was higher as compared to those who applied last year. There were 33,304 newborn in Sarawak last year and out of that number, 84 per cent or 26,731 newborn have registered for EFS.
As for new mothers incentive, Fatimah revealed that there were 3,363 mothers who have applied for the assistance as at March 4 for their post-natal care.
“The state government has also provided grants to women as seed capital for them to venture into business.
“The ministry has cultivated many women entrepreneurs through the training and skills provided by Skills Training Centre (STC),” she said, while adding that the number of women that has undergone skills training at STC was 13,876 as of March 5.
At the symposium, Abang Johari also launched a coffee table book featuring 30 Sarawakian women entrepreneurs. — DayakDaily
