KUCHING, Aug 7: Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong is calling on the Sarawak government to set up a proper counter or website for Kenyalang Gold Card (KGC) matters so as to manage the system in a more transparent and effective manner.
She asserted there was no proper channel for the public to access information and that many applicants have complained that they were confused and clueless about the status of their applications while some said that they did not know where to collect their cards from.
“The government needs to be more systematic in handling the KGC especially to enable the applicants to check the status of their applications as well as to find out the date and place for cards collection,” she opined in a statement today.
Even though the Minister for Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah had informed the public to call the welfare helpline at 082-514141 for queries, Yong said there were complaints that the helpline was not helpful at all.
“Instead the public are asked by the operator on the helpline to call another number to find out (information for KGC) which ended also (being) useless and could not give a clear answer to the public concerning the KGC,” she added.
Yong expressed disappointment, claiming the Sarawak government was using the KGC for political mileage by allowing Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) component parties to distribute the KGC.
“Many of the KGC applicants have expressed their great dissatisfaction over the state government for not being sincere in giving out this KGC as many of them still have not received their cards.
“The state government should be more considerate and compassionate in helping the senior citizens by doing away with all unnecessary bureaucracy red tape and come out with a systematic way to process and distribute the KGC,” she urged. — DayakDaily
