Call for appeal mechanism for SKAS applicants who were ‘wrongly rejected’

KUCHING (March 17): The state government should introduce an appeal mechanism for Sarawak Basic Needs Assistance Scheme (SKAS) applicants who believe they were wrongly rejected, said Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong.

In a press conference yesterday, she said the absence of an appeal channel this year was puzzling and unacceptable, especially if the state government was sincere in helping Sarawakians cope with the rising cost of living.

“If the Sarawak Government is truly sincere in its intention to help all eligible Sarawakians cope with the rising cost of living, it must ensure that the implementation of SKAS is fair, transparent and accessible,” she said.

Yong said her office had received a case involving a Sarawakian woman, identified as Mdm Kong, who is listed under the household category of the federal Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) scheme.

Under the STR system, she said the woman’s husband is registered as the head of household while she is listed as the spouse, and based on this classification she successfully received SKAS assistance last year.

However, Yong said the woman’s SKAS application this year was rejected on the ground that her husband is not a Sarawakian and his identity card does not carry the “K” indicator.

“If she is already recognised under the STR household category and has previously received SKAS, how could the Sarawak government suddenly deny her eligibility?” she said.

Yong said she was prepared to give the state government the benefit of the doubt that the rejection could have been an administrative oversight.

“But if mistakes can happen, why is there no avenue for appeal? Sarawakians who are genuinely eligible should at least be given the opportunity to submit supporting documents and have their cases reviewed,” she said.

She also questioned why the appeal process, which was available last year, had been removed.

In addition, Yong said her office had received many complaints from SKAS recipients who were unable to access their assistance through the SPay Global system due to the facial recognition verification requirement.

She said the problem was particularly serious among elderly recipients, bedridden patients and persons with disabilities (OKU), many of whom were unable to pass the facial recognition verification due to illness or physical limitations.

“As a result, there are recipients who can see the aid credited to their account but are unable to utilise it. This defeats the very purpose of providing assistance,” she said.

Yong called on the Sarawak government to urgently address the issue by introducing an appeal mechanism for rejected applicants, setting up a dedicated helpline and service counter to assist vulnerable recipients, and providing alternative verification methods for those unable to complete facial recognition.

She also suggested allowing the assistance to be channelled directly into bank accounts for vulnerable recipients who cannot access the e-wallet system.

She further urged the government to ensure eligibility criteria are announced at least six months in advance instead of only during the disbursement process.

She said clear and early communication was necessary so that Sarawakians understood the criteria and were not caught by surprise when assistance was distributed.

Yong added that she would write to Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah and the Sarawak Welfare Department regarding cases involving recipients who were unable to access the aid.

She noted that the Welfare Department’s website states that bedridden recipients who are unable to utilise the SKAS assistance personally can approach the department for help.

“So since we have members of the public in this category that cannot access the SKAS welfare aid and have already provided their information to us, we will submit their cases to the Welfare Department as well as to the minister,” she said.

Yong said public assistance schemes must be implemented with compassion, flexibility and accountability, adding that funds used for welfare assistance come from taxpayers and should reach the rightful recipients.