KUCHING: More than 90,000 Sarawakians have been added to the Sumbangan Keperluan Asas Sarawak (SKAS) assistance programme after successfully appealing their eligibility status, says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said the additional recipients were among those initially left out of the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) database but were later approved after submitting appeals through their community leaders.
“There were some who were left out from the LHDN list. We asked them to make an appeal and they did.
“Individuals who believe they qualify for the assistance but have yet to receive it should continue to submit appeals through their village chiefs or community leaders.
“If their names are not on the list, they should appeal. Perhaps they were inadvertently left out. If their circumstances meet the requirements, they may still qualify, as proven by the additional 90,000 recipients approved through the appeal process,” he said after a walkabout session for the SKAS programme and the grand opening of Farley Garden Kuching here today (June 20).
Abang Johari revealed that a total of 874,878 Sarawakians are currently receiving SKAS assistance statewide.
Of the total, 405,505 recipients are from the household category, while 127,266 comprise senior citizens. Another 342,107 recipients are single individuals.
According to him, the Sarawak government has increased the allocation for the programme this year, with assistance payments being distributed in three phases.
The first payment was made in March, followed by another before the Gawai celebration, while the next disbursement is scheduled for November to coincide with the period when families are preparing for the new school term.
“Cost of living continues to rise and the Sarawak government under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) has managed to increase state revenue. We share this revenue with the people so they can benefit from the state’s success,” he said.
Abang Johari said the assistance enables families to save on basic necessities such as rice, sugar and other household essentials, allowing them to redirect their income towards other important expenses, including school preparations for their children.
He said SKAS assistance is distributed through the SPay Global platform, ensuring that aid reaches its intended beneficiaries directly while minimising leakages.
“We have adopted a targeted assistance approach. The government pays directly for essential items needed by families, ensuring the assistance is used for its intended purpose,” he said.
He said through the digital payment platform, transactions are made easier for recipients whether they shop at modern supermarkets or village grocery stores.
He added that the state government has allocated RM680 million for the implementation of SKAS this year.
Abang Johari explained that when combined with federal assistance programmes such as Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR), the initiative provides significant support to help Sarawakians cope with rising living costs.
