By Luke Rintod
KOTA KINABALU: Hundreds of welfare recipients in the state have been told that they will have to bear with a delay in getting their special monthly aid for the time being because of a delay in federal funds.
The state government said the delay in disbursing the special monthly allowance to deserving citizens in various districts in Sabah is due to a failure by the state government to receive funds from the federal government.
State Community Development and Consumer Affairs Assistant Minister, Herbert Timbon Lagadan, admitted that the state Welfare Department, which oversees the disbursement of various welfare aid here, has been unable to disburse the aid on time for the past few months due to the delay.
"Also recipients who do not yet have bank accounts, will see a further delay receiving their allowance," he said when approached by FMT on the issue today following complaints by the elderly.
Under a special arrangement with the federal government last year, the monthly aid was increased from RM90 to RM300 for the needy including single mothers, handicapped persons and qualified elderly (above 60 years).
However, some of the welfare recipients, especially from the district of Kota Belud, have been complaining that they had not received the aid since either August/September this year.
They also complained that there had been no notice of the delay and that they had been given all kinds of excuses with some told they were no longer qualified for aid and that there would be new 'screening' before they could be considered eligible.
Lagadan, who is the Kadamaian assemblyman in Kota Belud, admitted that there is a fresh 'screening' on the living conditions of those who had received aid for a year.
"Our welfare officers will visit their houses to ascertain their qualification before deciding to continue the aid," he said adding that the screening is only for those who have received aid for one year.
The state Welfare Department comes under the Ministry of Community Development and Consumer Affairs headed by Minister Azizah Mohd Dun. - FMT
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