KUCHING: 150 welfare recipients here received RM100 cash assistance and food hampers to help ease preparations for Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration through the ‘Sejambak Kasih Aidilfitri 2026’ programme.
The recipients include vulnerable groups such as senior citizens, children, persons with disabilities, chronic patients, single mothers, and low-income families.
Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said this year, 2,786 Muslim recipients in Kuching are celebrating ‘Hari Raya’, representing a portion of the 10,883 monthly welfare beneficiaries registered in the division.
“The remaining 2,636 recipients would have their cash assistance credited directly into their accounts.
“The initiative forms part of the state’s continuous effort to expand social protection and ensure no vulnerable group is left behind during major festive seasons,” she said.
She said this in her speech for the ‘Sejambak Kasih Aidilfitri 2026’ programme, organised by the Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKMS) at Pustaka Negeri Sarawak today.
Fatimah also revealed the updated figures on statewide welfare distribution.
From January to December 2025, JKMS disbursed RM299.79 million to 57,073 monthly aid recipients across Sarawak.
Of that amount, Kuching District Welfare Office (PKMB Kuching) channeled RM57.28 million to 10,883 recipients within the same period.
Fatimah also emphasised that the Sarawak Government has strengthened its welfare agenda through what she described as “whole spectrum and inter-generation assistance”, covering women, children and senior citizens.
Among the initiatives highlighted were the RM450 ‘Bantuan Ibu Bersalin’, the RM1,000 Endowment Fund Sarawak (EFS) for every newborn, the RM5,000 Special Annual Grant for early childhood centres (IPAKK), and TASKA/TADIKA fee subsidies of up to RM1,000 for eligible families.
Healthcare-related support includes ‘Bantuan Khas Pesakit Buah Pinggang’, provision of 30 haemodialysis machines, the Medical Assistance Scheme, and the Senior Citizen Health Benefits (SCHB) which provides cashless outpatient treatment up to RM500 annually.
Fatimah also highlighted empowerment programmes such as the JKMS Launch Grant, the RM1,000 KIRWaS assistance, NGO empowerment grants, and the Low-Income Family Empowerment (LIFE) initiative.
“These efforts reflect our continuous commitment to improving the well-being and dignity of vulnerable communities in Sarawak,” she said.
