KUCHING: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) has taken a proactive step to improve access to public assistance programmes by becoming the first local council in Sarawak to introduce the Sarawak Government Benefit Open Counter initiative.
Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng said the initiative aimed at bringing services closer to the people.
“This counter makes it easier for our senior citizens and students to apply for benefits without having to navigate complex systems on their own.
“MBKS will closely monitor public response to the initiative and is considering making the open counter available on a weekly basis if the demand proven to be consistent.
“This is one of many efforts by MBKS to foster a more inclusive, caring, and accessible city for all,” he said in a statement on Friday.
This initiative allows senior citizens to conveniently apply for the Kenyalang Gold Card and Senior Citizen Health Benefit (SCHB) programme, while students can submit their applications for the Bantuan Kewangan Khas under Yayasan Sarawak – all in one place at the MBKS lobby.
In addition, the counter also assists the public with inquiries and applications for social welfare assistance, as well as applications for the Affin Bank Kenyalang Debit Card.
The Sarawak Government Benefit Counter is part of MBKS’ efforts under the Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) and the Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities.
By setting up this accessible platform, the Council aims to bridge the gap between the public and the benefits offered by the government, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly.
The counter opened on Friday, and will resume operations next Friday (May 23).
