KUCHING (March 12): A total of 150 welfare aid recipients each received RM100 cash and a hamper from the Welfare Department (JKM) Sarawak at the ‘Sejambak Kasih Hari Raya Aidilfitri’ programme here yesterday.

When met by reporters at the event in Majma Mall here, Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah highlighted the state government’s commitment of supporting the welfare of its people, particularly during the festive seasons.

“This year, a total of 4,465 welfare aid recipients in Kuching celebrating Hari Raya will receive an additional RM100, on top of their regular monthly aid.

“The department has also increased the monthly assistance for senior citizens from RM500 to RM600. Hopefully, this increase would help ease the burden of our senior citizens.

“If the state’s revenue continues to grow, we hope to provide even better support in the future,” she said.

The minister added that JKM Sarawak had already allocated over RM49 million in aid distribution within the first two months of this year, with senior citizens being the largest group of recipients.

“Sarawak is projected to become an ageing state by 2028, with senior citizens making up 15 per cent of the population. As such, the number of elderly welfare aid recipients is expected to rise.

“However, the government hopes to see an increase in household income so that fewer people will need financial assistance.”

At yesterday’s event, three individuals received their Kenyalang Gold Cards (KGC), and two others were presented with Persons with Special Needs (PwD) cards.

In addition, four families affected by the fire that struck Kampung Tabuan Lot on March 5 were given assistance by JKM.

“Whenever a disaster occurs, the Welfare Department responds immediately. The first form of aid provided is food assistance. Dry food supplies have already been distributed, along with sleeping essentials and kitchen equipment worth RM11,700.

“Other disaster relief assistance, including pocket money, daily clothing, school uniforms, and school supplies, amounts to RM18,400,” said Fatimah, adding that the Sarawak government had also increased its disaster relief allocation, doubling the daily meal allowance for disaster victims from RM25 to RM50.

Also present yesterday were Fatimah’s deputy ministers Datuk Rosey Yunus and Datuk Mohamad Razi Sitam, as well as ministry permanent secretary Datu Felicia Tan.

BEAUFORT: Residents here are facing difficulty as the town, the hub of their economic activities and daily life, has been hit by floods since March 7 and the roads are now only open to heavy vehicles while train services have been disrupted.

Beaufort town is located 97km south of Kota Kinabalu, with the nearest towns being Kuala Penyu (40km), Papar (54km) and Menumbok (63km).

However, the affected roads in surrounding areas, including Membakut, are making it difficult for residents to move around.

A visit by Bernama found residents struggling to obtain daily necessities as all shops are closed, with some premises submerged up to the level of the signboards.

Residents have been forced to use boats to reach some areas of the town due to the floodwaters.

Florance Jerome, a 44-year-old teacher, said she and staff from Sekolah Kebangsaan St John and the Parent-Teacher Association are working to gather food and supplies for those affected.

“The security guard at the school has also been without food since last Friday due to the floods, as have residents in the surrounding areas. We’ve been trying to get supplies, but it’s been quite difficult, especially trying to get past the floodwaters in the town,” she said.

Housewife Normah Sulaiman, 58, said the train service is a vital link between rural and remote areas, as well as to major cities such as Kota Kinabalu. With the service disrupted, residents are facing difficulty moving about, Bernama reported.

“Many rely on the train to go to Kota Kinabalu, whether for work or to visit relatives. It is the most affordable and safest option, especially for elderly people like me who are unable to drive long distances.”

Keluarga yang terjejas akibat banjir di daerah ini dan Membakut akan menerima bantuan kewangan kecemasan sebanyak RM1,300 daripada kerajaan Persekutuan dan negeri.

Ketua Menteri, Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor berkata, daripada jumlah itu, RM1,000 disumbangkan Agensi Pengurusan Bencana Negara (Nadma) manakala RM300 lagi dari Yayasan Kebajikan Sabah (YKS).

“Selain bantuan tunai, setiap keluarga yang dipindahkan ke pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) juga menerima bantuan makanan,” katanya selepas melawat PPS Dewan Datuk Seri Panglima Mohd Dun Banir, di sini, semalam.

Lawatan itu turut disertai Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Sabah, Datuk Seri Safar Untong dan Setiausaha Politik Kanan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin.

PPS Dewan Datuk Seri Panglima Mohd Dun Banir menempatkan 147 keluarga yang terdiri daripada 412 mangsa banjir dari beberapa kampung berhampiran.

Sejak banjir melanda Jumaat lalu, sebanyak tujuh PPS dibuka di daerah ini yang memberi perlindungan kepada seramai 1,944 mangsa daripada 614 keluarga.

Ketika lawatannya, Hajiji turut menyampaikan bantuan dan meninjau keadaan mangsa banjir di PPS terbabit.

Bukan saja berhadapan dengan laluan air yang deras hingga menyukarkan bot penyelamat malah pegawai dan anggota bomba juga berisiko berdepan hipotermia akibat kesejukan melampau ketika menjalankan operasi menyelamat mangsa banjir di daerah ini sejak Sabtu lalu.

Itu antara cabaran pegawai dan anggota Balai Bomba dan Penyelamat (BBP) Beaufort dalam menjalankan tugas menyelamat mangsa banjir.

Ketua BBP Beaufort, Mohammad Hasbullah Nenggok berkata, operasi pemindahan mangsa banjir di daerah ini dijalankan sejak Jumaat lalu.

“Kekuatan anggota dari BBP seramai 36 orang dengan dibantu pegawai dan anggota dari Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Lintas, Putatan, Kuala Penyu dan Sipitang.

“Sejak itu, operasi dimulakan bagi proses pemindahan mangsa banjir membabitkan 24 kampung yang terjejas banjir dan memerlukan pemindahan ke pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS).

“Antara kampung yang terjejas banjir ialah Kampung Cina, Balibata, Bakalau, Bingkul, Lumatai, Muhibbah Baru, Lupak, Batu 60, Batandok, Lago, Padas

Baru, Beaufort Selatan, Selagon, Taman Muhibbah, Kampung Padas Valley, Luagan, Kubu, Mempagar, Bangkalalak, Suasa, Lubak, Pintas, Lumadan dan Jaya Baru,” katanya ketika dihubungi kelmarin.