Special needs groups call for aid ‘top-ups’ in Sarawak Budget 2025

Composite photo of Isak Ngau (left) and Rapelson Richard Hamit.

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Nov 4: As Sarawak anticipates the tabling of the State Budget 2025 next week, Sarawak Society for the Blind chairman Isak Ngau hopes that the Sarawak government will consider adding a monthly cash top-up of RM100 to RM150 to the Federal government’s RM450 Allowance for Disabled Employees (EPOKU).

To further help the community, he proposed that the Sarawak government provide vouchers to buy daily goods for families whose members have disabilities three times a year, with each voucher worth RM200. For individuals with disabilities (OKU), he suggested vouchers worth RM100 each.

“I also recommend the introduction of a special incentive grant ‘1 OKU 1 Home’ valued at RM10,000, similar to the initiative previously offered by the Sarawak government for youths in Sarawak.

“Additionally, the ‘OKU Entrepreneur Grant’ of RM10,000 or RM30,000 as a one-off payment aims to improve existing businesses and create job opportunities for fellow OKU individuals,” he said in a statement today.

He also called for comprehensive development allocations to establish OKU-friendly facilities in major cities across Sarawak, including indoor and outdoor infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Persatuan Anak Istimewa Sarawak (PERAIS) president Rapelson Richard Hamit, who supported Isak’s statement, called on the Sarawak government to bring good news for the OKU community in the upcoming Sarawak Budget 2025.

He noted that the Federal government has allocated RM1.3 billion for OKU assistance under the Social Welfare Department (JKM), up from RM1.2 billion, with the salary eligibility requirement for receiving the EPOKU will also be raised from RM1,500 to RM1,700.

“However, the Federal Budget 2025 announced by the Madani Government primarily focused on direct aid but did not address empowerment programmes or special incentive grants for the holistic development of the OKU community in all sectors,” he said.

Following this, Rapelson reiterated his wish for the Sarawak government to reinstate a 50 per cent discount on utility bills including water, electricity and telecommunications; public transportation fares; flight tickets; e-hailing rides; half-price housing; and national vehicles for the OKU.

He also hoped that the Sarawak government could provide lifelong free education for individuals with disabilities, up to the doctoral (PhD) level.

In addition, he said exclusive legislation to protect the welfare of the OKU community has yet to be amended, enacted or implemented.

Thus, he urged the Sarawak government to push the Federal government to amend, enact and enforce the OKU Act as an exclusive law, not just a guideline, and to impose penalties on those who violate it, ensuring the welfare of the OKU community. — DayakDaily