A total of RM1.5 million has been allocated under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) to continue the Bantuan Ketua Isi Rumah Wanita Sarawak (KIRWaS) initiative, which is expected to benefit 1,500 new recipients across the state.
Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the allocation was a continuation of the programme implemented during the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) period to support women heads of household in improving their livelihoods through entrepreneurship.
“As of Apr 30 this year, a total of 159 women heads of household entrepreneurs in Sarawak had received KIRWaS assistance, with the highest recorded income reaching RM4,500 per month,” she said during her ministerial winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) today (May 19).
Fatimah added that the ministry, through the Sarawak Women and Family Department (JWKS), had also implemented the Sarawak Women Empowerment Capital Grant in line with the Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
“The initiative targets low-income women to help them generate income and eventually move out of poverty,” she added.
According to her, the programme’s implementation in 2025 found that 21 recipients successfully achieved monthly incomes exceeding RM2,150.
“At the same time, 68 recipients generated monthly incomes above the Poverty Line Income (PGK) of RM1,298 and are no longer categorised as poor,” she said.
Fatimah added that RM2.5 million had been allocated this year for 470 new recipients under the Sarawak Women Empowerment Capital Grant initiative.
