KUCHING, May 21: Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas has urged Sarawak Welfare Department officers to explain to the people the various welfare programmes provided by the department.
According to Uggah, many people, especially those in rural areas, are still not aware of the various assistance provided by the government.
“Explain to them the categories of aid provided, who are qualified to apply for what, and how they can apply,” said Uggah during the department’s Sejambak Kasih Gawai 2022 programme held in conjunction with the coming Gawai Dayak at SMK Spaoh Hall today.
Uggah noted the State government has a very inclusive social policy in helping the less fortunate.
“Sadly, some applications were not approved because they (applicants) had applied under the wrong categories,” he lamented.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Mohammad Razi Sitam said that the government had set aside RM2.7 million to provide Gawai Dayak assistance to 25,891 people Statewide.
He said this included 2,102 from the Betong Division, where the government has set aside RM210,200.
On its monthly aid assistance, he continued, the Welfare Department had spent RM81 million to help 51,495 recipients Statewide from January to April this year.
“For the Betong Division, 4,191 recipients had received RM6.6 million,” he said.
During the programme, Uggah presented the assistance to an initial group of 100 recipients from the Betong Division, where each recipient received RM100 cash, and a food hamper worth RM80. The rest of the recipients would receive the money banked into their accounts.
Uggah and Mohammad Razi were joined by Betong MP Datuk Robert Lawson Chuat and political Secretary to Sarawak Premier Dr Richard Rapu. — DayakDaily
