KUCHING: The Yayasan Keluarga Malaysia (YKM) continues its commitment to supporting orphans and children who have lost their loved ones to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In conjunction with the Christmas season, YKM chairman Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob visited two families here and met with new applicants for assistance.
One of the families visited was that of Tina Bong, 50, who lost her husband, Sim Siang Yeong, 53, to Covid-19 in October 2021.
Tina now resides in her in-laws’ home with her two children, Ethan Sim Yong Ching, 18, and Evan Sim Yong Ching, 15, while also caring for her elderly in-laws, aged 87 and 85.
She earns a modest and unstable income by offering cooking services from home.
Ismail Sabri presented cash assistance to Tina and her family to ensure they could celebrate Christmas with joy.
“Additionally, 20 Christian orphans under YKM’s care will each receive a festive contribution of RM300, credited directly to their bank accounts starting tomorrow.
“This initiative reflects YKM’s commitment to enabling orphans and bereaved children to celebrate festive seasons according to their beliefs and cultures,” he said during his visit to the family at Taman BDC here on Thursday (Dec 12).
He also said that earlier, he visited Rimanoraishahida Sarbini, 37, who lost her husband, Mohamad Nuryasri Suut, to Covid-19 in September 2021.
“Rimanoraishahida, who earns RM700 monthly as a babysitter, is raising three children, Muhammad Iman Darius, 16, Nur Iman Amani, 14, and Nur Iman Aleeya, 13.
“YKM has approved assistance for her three children starting next year,” he said, handing over the approval letter during his visit.
Since 2022, he said YKM has provided phased “Bantuan Kasih” assistance to 977 recipients, including 47 individuals from 21 families in Sarawak.
“Children under 16 receive RM2,000 annually, while those aged 16 until the completion of their first degree are provided RM2,500 annually.”
Ismail Sabri highlighted that YKM allocated RM5 million this year for various forms of aid, including education, festive contributions, disaster relief and management.
“With 890 new applications under review, the total assistance is expected to increase next year,” he said, adding that the successful applicants will be notified of their status via email and WhatsApp.
