Fatimah: 55,184 needy individuals benefit from RM98.8 mln aid from Jan-April this year
Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah. – Photo by Roystein Emmor
KUCHING: A total of 55,184 low-income individuals in Sarawak received various forms of financial assistance between January and April this year totalling RM98.8 million, said Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah.
'As of May 2025, the total recipients in the Bukit Begunan constituency is 1,323, amounting to RM622,150 (financial aid),' she responded to a question from Bukit Begunan assemblyman Datuk Mong Dagang at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting at the DUN Complex here yesterday.
Mong had asked about the programmes undertaken by the Sarawak government to tackle poverty in the state.
Fatimah further disclosed that among the programmes provided by the ministry through the Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKMS) is the Wellbest Entrepreneur Grant, which offers up to RM5,000.
'This one-off grant is mainly for productive monthly welfare aid recipients or households as a means to enable them to expand their businesses, increase their income, and consequently be removed from the list of monthly aid recipients.
'A successful Wellbest entrepreneur is defined as one who earns a net income or monthly sales exceeding RM1,200,' she said.
Adding on, Fatimah said the state government also provides monthly financial assistance to the underprivileged.
She said from January to April 2025, a total of 45,240 low-income individuals in Sarawak received federal monthly aid based on the National Poverty Line Income (PGK) of RM1,198.
'Additionally, 9,944 low-income individuals benefited from the State General Assistance, which is based on the PGK of RM990,' she said.
'The breakdown of assistance is as follows: 21,604 recipients received Bantuan Warga Emas amounting to RM51,303,600; 6,580 recipients received Bantuan Kanak-Kanak amounting to RM102,209,700; 9,935 recipients received Bantuan Am amounting to RM8,973,000; 3,445 recipients received Elaun Pekerja Orang Kurang Upaya (EPOKU) amounting to RM6,126,300.
'2,356 recipients received Bantuan Penjagaan OKU/Pesakit Terlantar (BPT) amounting to RM4,647,000; 11,230 recipients received Bantuan OKU Tidak Berupaya Bekerja (BTB) amounting to RM15,524,600; 25 recipients received Bantuan Anak Pelihara amounting to RM29,000, and nine recipients received Bantuan Belia-Beliawanis amounting to RM3,200.'
Fatimah added the state government has also implemented several programmes to tackle poverty issues in the state including micro-capital assistance for small business ventures such as Low Income Family Empowerment and Bantuan Ketua Isi Rumah Wanita Sarawak.
'Cash assistance includes Subsidi Yuran Pengasuhan dan Pendidikan Awal Kanak-kanak, Endowment Fund Sarawak (EFS), and Bantuan Ibu Bersalin (BIB). Entrepreneurship programmes include Wellbest Entrepreneur Grant, Youth Agropreneurs Grant, and Sarawak Microcredit Scheme.
'Agriculture assistance includes Agriculture Development Programmes for various crops (pepper, sago, rubber, oil palm, coconut, fruit crops, vegetable and cash crops), Agrofood Entrepreneur, Aquaculture Industrial Zones, Fishery Inputs and Monsoon Season Aid for Fishermen, Program Bayaran Elaun Sara Hidup Nelayan Darat, and Agrotourism,' said Fatimah.
She said there were also skills training programmes for women and ethnic minorities, as well as housing assistance which includes the Kampung Extension Scheme, Program Penambahbaikan Rumah Rakyat Miskin Sarawak, Housing Deposit Assistance Scheme, and Sarawak Rental Assistance Scheme.
'Educational assistance includes Program Bantuan Pakaian Seragam Sekolah, Perkhidmatan Pengangkutan Percuma Pelajar Sekolah and Program Tuisyen Sekolah Menengah for SPM students. Medical aid includes Bantuan Pesakit Buah Pinggang, Bantuan Perubatan, and Bantuan Alat Tiruan/Sokongan.' fatimah abdullah financial aid lead low-income earners poverty
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