SARIKEI: The Sarawak government approved an allocation of RM16 million Annual Special Grant (GTK) to all registered child institutions. Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the allocation would benefit 3,035 registered kindergartens throughout the state. As of Aug 27, Fatimah stated that 2,771 (91.3 percent) applications were received. “Meanwhile, the payment of RM7,66,000 to 1,531 kindergartens which registered earlier are now being processed.
“It is the government’s social responsibility to improve the quality of education among young generations starting at the pre-school level,” she said at the state-level National Day Celebration here yesterday. Fatimah added that the Sarawak government was committed to taking care of the welfare of the people.
Through the Endowment Fund Sarawak (EFS), she explained Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg had announced an assistance of RM1,000 to every Sarawakian child, beginning 2019 regardless of race, religion or socioeconomic status.
“The objective of EFS is to help in the preparation for further education and start a small business or venture capital. “The EFS incentive is managed by Bank Islam and withdrawal is only possible when the child has reached the age of 18. In the event of death, the beneficiary can withdraw the EFS for the burial,” she said.
