KUCHING: Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKMS) has been commended for its efforts in processing disaster assistance for storm victims.
The assistance involved assessments, documentation and verification procedures to ensure eligible applicants received appropriate financial support following the disaster.
Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng said the council appreciated the Ministry of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development’s efforts in handling applications submitted by affected residents.
“We would like to thank the Ministry during the event, myself, community leaders and councillors went down to take all the reports before passing them to the Ministry,” he said.
He said this to reporters at the distribution of disaster relief at Wisma Kebajikan here today.
Wee said the application process required time as authorities needed to follow established procedures, including checking documents, information and applicants’ eligibility.
He said he attended the process to better understand how the system operated and to gain insight into procedures followed by government agencies.
“I was there the whole afternoon, going through all the applicants and understanding how they were qualified, including documentation, information, procedures and qualifications,” he said.
Wee said such procedures were necessary to ensure accountability and transparency when assessing claims submitted by affected residents.
He added that ministry officers subsequently visited affected houses to gather information, with the assessments completed within two days.
“I was quite happy to learn that within two days, they managed to go to each house to take information and conduct the necessary assessments,” he said.
Wee acknowledged that some residents might perceive the process as slow, but stressed that substantial work was being carried out behind the scenes.
He said requirements such as police reports were part of established procedures and needed to be fulfilled before assistance could be processed.
“Everything has to follow the procedures because when we run a government, everything must be there, and accountability is important,” he said.
Wee said the assistance would be channelled through the banks next week, while Friday’s presentation at Wisma Kebajikan was symbolic.
He said only several names were listed during the ceremony, while MBKS had submitted applications involving more than 60 affected residents.
Wee added that applications submitted by community leaders would also be considered, with assistance currently listed involving more than RM100,000 in subsidies.
He said the experience also allowed MBKS councillors to better understand government procedures and the importance of ensuring assistance reached eligible victims.
