EFS processing time cut from up to six months to one month

Fatimah (third left) holds a baby while others look on during the EFS presentation ceremony at Baitul Makmur 2 building, Kuching on June 8, 2026.

By Shikin Louis

KUCHING, June 8: The processing time for Endowment Fund Sarawak (EFS) applications is expected to be reduced from up to six months previously to just one month beginning July this year, following the implementation of a new online system.

Sarawak Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the improvement marks a major milestone in the State government’s efforts to streamline the delivery of the initiative and ensure more eligible Sarawakian children benefit from the fund.

“We started with a manual application process which took between three and six months.

“With the new system introduced this year, we have already shortened the processing period to between one and three months, and our target from July onwards is for applications to be processed and accounts opened within one month,” she told a press conference after chairing the Endowment Fund Sarawak Committee Meeting No. 1/2026 today.

Fatimah explained that under the previous system, applications had to be submitted manually and verified by the National Registration Department (NRD) to determine a child’s eligibility as a Sarawakian before an account could be opened.

“Now, applications are submitted online, documents are uploaded digitally, and verification is done through the system itself. This significantly reduces the processing time,” she added.

Despite the shift to online applications, she said manual submissions will still be accepted in rural areas with limited internet connectivity.

The committee meeting also reviewed 13 anomaly cases involving EFS applications.

As of April 30, 2026, a total of 154,648 Sarawakian children have received EFS accounts since the initiative was introduced in 2019, involving an allocation of RM154.6 million from the Sarawak government.

Fatimah said the overall participation rate among eligible applicants has increased to 93 per cent, compared to about 80 per cent previously.

“This is a very encouraging development. Over the years, we have addressed weaknesses in the implementation process and improved outreach efforts,” she said.

For 2025, she said 27,421 births with Sarawakian status were recorded, of which 24,315 EFS applications were received, representing an 89 per cent participation rate.

Of the applications received, 17,597 accounts, or 72.3 per cent, were successfully opened within the same year, while the remaining applications were completed in the first quarter of 2026.

Meanwhile, as of April 30 this year, 5,230 applications had been received from 8,743 eligible Sarawakian children born in 2026, equivalent to a 60 per cent participation rate.

Fatimah expressed confidence that the figure would continue to rise as parents are given up to one year from their child’s birth to submit applications.

She said the ministry would continue strengthening awareness and promotional efforts through hospitals, health clinics, district offices, Sarawak Service Centres, and the Sarawak government’s digital platforms, including for Sarawakian children born outside the State and overseas.

The EFS initiative provides RM1,000 for every eligible Sarawakian child born from Jan 1, 2019, with the funds intended to support their future tertiary education.

Fatimah also highlighted improvements in the processing of Bantuan Ibu Bersalin (BIB), with the waiting period reduced from three months previously to just two weeks.

She said the faster disbursement allows mothers to utilise the assistance during their confinement period for healthcare needs, medication and other essential expenses for themselves and their newborns. — DayakDaily