S’wak govt allocates RM107,000 for 75 storm-hit families within MBKS jurisdiction

Wee (10th right, second row from back) with recipients of the Sarawak government disaster assistance at the MBKS Council Chamber on Oct 2, 2026.

By Wilfred Pilo

KUCHING, Oct 2: A total of 75 families whose homes were damaged by a storm in late August will receive RM107,000 in Sarawak government disaster assistance, facilitated through the Kuching South City Council (MBKS).

According to MBKS Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng, the State assistance was for residents within the MBKS jurisdiction who had submitted formal applications after suffering property and livelihood losses due to the storm.

He said the Sarawak government would disburse the assistance directly into the bank accounts of eligible recipients through the Social Welfare Department.

“The assistance has gone through the proper process under the Sarawak government’s disaster assistance mechanism,” he said during a press conference before the financial assistance was handed over to recipients at the MBKS Council Chamber today.

He said applicants were required to follow a formal process, including filing a police report, while their claims were subsequently verified by the Social Welfare Department, and clarified that the RM107,000 in disaster assistance was provided by the Sarawak government.

Wee thanked the State government for providing the assistance to families affected by the storm, as well as elected representatives who had helped affected residents within the MBKS jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, he said MBKS was also providing additional assistance through its Caring Programme, with each affected family receiving RM1,000.

“What we are doing is not ‘copy and paste’, as alleged by elected representatives on social media. We are merely helping those in need, especially disaster victims. It is under the MBKS Caring Programme,” he said.

Wee said assistance to affected residents should not be viewed as something that could be claimed or copyrighted.

He added that MBKS would continue to explore ways to assist residents, particularly those facing difficulties in the aftermath of disasters.

“We hope the financial assistance will help ease the burden of affected families as they recover and rebuild their lives,” he said. — DayakDaily