Minister upset over non-transparency claim on KGC death compassionate aid

KUCHING (Aug 12): Explanation has been given on the rationalisation of the Death Compassionate Assistance (BIK) under the Kenyalang Gold Card (KGC) programme, which has been reduced to RM1,800 from the previous RM3,000.

In reiterating this, state Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah found it disappointing that the Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak had made claim about her ministry not being transparent in its move to reduce the BIK compensation for the next-of-kin upon the death of a KGC holder.

She stressed that her ministry had provided explanation several times that it was the KGC holders, comprising Sarawakian senior citizens aged 60 and above, who had asked for the reduction, on the rationale that it would be better for them to get to enjoy the programme’s benefits now rather than for the compensation to only be disbursed after death.

“I have provided the explanation several times at various forums and events; among the most recent were at the Senior Citizens Health Benefit (SCHB) simulation programme in Columbia Hospital Bintulu on July 21, 2024, and the handing-over of dialysis machine in Debak on Aug 5, 2024.

“The SCHB target for 2024 is RM500 times 100,000 ‘warga emas’ (senior citizens) with a monthly household of RM7,000 and below. Therefore, the total cost for this would be RM50 million.

“In the system created by Sarawak Information System Sdn Bhd (Sains), there are already 75,137 names of senior citizens who are qualified for the benefit (SCHB Phase I),” she told The Borneo Post here.

The SCHB, which was unveiled by Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg here last Saturday (Aug 10), meant to improve the elderly group’s access to healthcare.

It provides for a maximum benefit of RM500 per person annually, in the form of cashless outpatient treatments obtained at the designated panel clinics.

Fatimah added: “The SCHB of RM500 will be more directly enjoyed by the recipient than the BIK.”

Based on Welfare Department Sarawak’s records, the average number of cases of death among the KGC holders stands at 5,000 annually.

In this regard, the expenditure for these 5,000 deaths would amount to RM15 million a year, using the calculation based on the BIK rate of RM3,000; using the revised rate of RM1,800 for the same number of death cases, the amount would be far lower, RM9 million a year, said Fatimah.

“The SCHB can provide coverage to more recipients, in line with the concept of social inclusivity and aspiration of the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030,” the minister pointed out.

Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong had, last Thursday (Aug 8), pointed out that the significant reduction in BIK compensation from RM3,000 to RM1,800 had raised a grave concerns among all senior citizens and their beneficiaries and thus, she said the Sarawak state government was duty-bound to be more transparent regarding this matter.

She stressed that the state government must address the concern about such a huge cut and how this could align with the commitment of taking care of the people’s welfare.

“According to Welfare Department Sarawak, if a person (KGC holder) passed away before July 1 this year, their beneficiaries could still apply for the RM3,000 compassionate assistance. However, for those who passed away after July 1, their next-of-kin would only be eligible for RM1,800,” said the DAP Sarawak lawmaker.

Yong also claimed that there was no official announcement made either by Fatimah’s ministry or Welfare Department Sarawak before the implementation of this rationalisation, ‘leaving the public confused’.

“The state government frequently boasts about Sarawak being a high-income state with impressive economic growth, with revenue of RM7.66 billion recorded in the first quarter of this year – yet the decision to scale back on previously-promised benefits has cast doubt over its sincerity in helping Sarawakians.

“It is disappointing that while the Welfare Department Sarawak has introduced a RM500 annual health aid for senior citizens this year, it has simultaneously reduced the death compassionate assistance under the KGC programme.

“Even when combining the RM500 health aid and the RM1,800 death benefit, the total would only add up to RM2,300, still less than the previous RM3,000 death benefit entitled under the KGC.

“If the Sarawak government always claims to have such high annual revenue, then there is no reason to reduce the current RM3,000 death benefit in the KGC,” Yong elaborated, also believing that the state government should instead allocate additional funding for implementing the RM500 annual health aid for senior citizens, while maintaining the RM3,000 death compensation for the next-of-kin of the KGC holders.