SIBURAN: A total of 84 recipients from six villages in the Siburan and Tebedu districts received aid under the Cash and Voucher Handover programme organised by the Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) Serian Branch.
Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said that this programme is the first of its kind implemented in the Serian Division and among the earliest in Sarawak.
He stated that such initiatives further highlight the spirit of volunteerism within the community, particularly through involvement in the MRCS, which includes students, civil servants, and youths.
“As human beings, we need to have a sense of empathy and help one another regardless of background. The floods that occur every year affect many parties, and assistance like this is very meaningful,” he said during the handover programme held at Dewan Tapah recently.
On flood mitigation, Sagah, who is also Tarat assemblyman said that the Sarawak Government is studying long-term measures, including the proposed construction of large-scale retention ponds to reduce flood impacts, with the added potential of using these areas for solar energy generation in the future.
Meanwhile, MRCS Sarawak Director Chai King Sing said that the programme aims to assist communities affected by recent floods by providing aid in the form of cash or vouchers.
According to him, for the entire Serian Division, a total of 178 recipients from 12 villages will benefit from this initiative.
“This approach provides flexibility to recipients to determine their primary needs, such as hygiene items, food, and basic household necessities, while also supporting local businesses,” he said.
He added that post-flood needs assessments identified three main priorities: hygiene kits, cleaning kits, and basic household necessities.
Each household will receive a voucher valued at RM370, which can be redeemed from 7 to 21 April 2026.
