DALAT: Minority groups in Sarawak are not neglected by the government.
The assurance came from Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah who said that the distribution of contributions through the Welfare Department’s “Sejambak Kasih” (Bouquet of Love) programme in connection with the Deepavali festival was held for the first time this year in the state.
She said this was proof that no ethnic or religious group was shunned by the state.
“Previously, we had “Sejambak Kasih” for Chinese New Year, Gawai Dayak, Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Christmas. So this year, we also did it for Deepavali,” she said in her speech at a similar event held for the coming Christmas celebration at the community hall of Kampung Sungai Ud,Dalat, yesterday.
At the function, some 157 recipients of the monthly aid from the Welfare Department were each given RM100 in cash plus a hamper valued at RM50.
For those who were not present, the money would be deposited into their accounts.
A similar event will be held at Kampung Medong, also in Dalat, for 122 other welfare recipients.
These particular “Sejambak Kasih” contributions are meant to alleviate the financial burden of the recipients and to cheer them up during this Christmas season.
Fatimah said that in Mukah Division, 807 persons or 19.21 percent of the total recipients of monthly welfare aid,would receive the Christmas contributions.
She expressed concern that some cases were highlighted on social media which claimed that some needy persons had yet to receive assistance from the department.
“For these cases, please come forward or inform the nearest welfare office. They are not ignored. In fact the statistics showed that the number of recipients of welfare assistance from the department keeps increasing from year to year,” she said.
Fatimah, who is also Dalat assemblywoman, said some people were not aware that the department also has assistance for school children.
“They are meant for the welfare recipients’ children who are in primary and secondary school. The assistance is based on applications made at the local welfare offices. The objective is to ensure that poverty does not hinder children from getting educated,” she said.
On the monthly assistance, she said the government had channelled a total of RM209,522,570 into eight welfare schemes from January to December this year.
“A total of 58,251 recipients benefit from the schemes throughout the state,” she said.
Fatimah also stressed the importance of strategic cooperation between the department and other government agencies as well as the private sector to help the needy.
“Nowadays, the sharing of responsibilities between the agencies and the Welfare Department is encouraging, be it during the festive seasons or during disasters. This cooperation should continue so that all levels of society will benefit,” she said.
Besides presenting the welfare contributions at the event, she also handed over prizes to winners in various competitions, such as a Christmas tree and a cake decorating competition, held to celebrate Christmas.
Also featured at the event were Christmas songs, dances by the youths of Sungai Ud Dalat Borneo Evangelical Mission (BEM) and live performances of Dalat Buskers.
The event kicked off with the singing of the national and state anthems followed by a prayer led by the local BEM leader.
Also present were Dalat District Officer Kueh Lei Poh, Mukah welfare officer AziahSeruji, ASP John Dicky who represented Dalat District police chief, village chief Morshidi Han Bakeri and heads of departments and local community leaders.
