Sarawak expands welfare support for senior citizens

KUCHING (April 4): The Sarawak government continues to strengthen its commitment to senior citizens’ wellbeing through financial assistance, healthcare support and community-based initiatives.

State Women, Children and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said as of February, the state recorded 55,194 monthly welfare assistance cases under the Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKMS), with total expenditure reaching RM25.3 million.

“Of this, 22,355 recipients were beneficiaries of the Bantuan Warga Emas, receiving RM600 monthly, amounting to RM13.4 million in total aid,” she said during the officiating ceremony of the ‘Senior Citizen: We CARE For You’ programme, held at the Taman Sukma multipurpose hall here.

Fatimah added that the Kenyalang Gold Card (KGC) continues to play a key role in improving the quality of life of senior citizens, with 374,566 cards issued and activated digitally as of February.

She said the KGC also includes Bantuan Ihsan Kematian (BIK), which provides RM1,800 to the next of kin of deceased beneficiaries.

“From 2020 to 2026, a total of 29,641 recipients have benefited from BIK, with overall disbursement amounting to RM77,774,200,” she said.

On healthcare support, Fatimah said the Senior Citizen Health Benefit (SCHB) programme currently involves 224 registered healthcare panel institutions, benefiting 221,225 seniors statewide.

Also present were Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and his wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi.