Social Welfare Department to search for Malaysians eligible for financial aid

Sunday, July 20, 2008

The Star - News

Social Welfare Department to search for Malaysians eligible for financial aid
By JOSEPH LOH

PETALING JAYA: If you know of anyone who is need of welfare aid, please call Talian Nur at 15999.

The Social Welfare Department is actively searching for Malaysians who are eligible for financial aid but have not registered.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen explained that this new initiative, called Projek Cari, was intended to strengthen the department’s network.

“Over the next two months, we will seek and identify all those who are eligible to receive aid (from the department),” she said.

Dr Ng called on everyone to inform the department if they knew of any families living below the poverty line.

“If you know of anyone who is a single mother, or has no income, or is poor, tell us. Call it public social responsibility,” she said.

Categories eligible for aid include the disabled earning below RM1,200, senior citizens above 60 and earning less than RM700 and whose family members are unable support them, and children from households with less than RM700 income.

“They can go to the nearest welfare office and register with us. Our officers will check to see if they qualify for the scheme. It should not take more than a month to process their application,” she said when opening the National Council of Senior Citizens Organisations Malaysia (Nacscom) Old Folks Home in Kota Damansara.

She also noted that grandparents should not be obliged to care for their grandchildren.

“I’m not asking grandparents to not look after their grandchildren, but I believe they should not feel compelled to do so. That would be very sad,” she said.

Nacscom president Datuk Lum Kin Tuck said the home, which could house 20 people, currently had eight residents.

For more information on the home, contact Nacscom at 03-79585794.