Fatimah speaks to reporters during the press conference.
KUCHING: Welfare Department Sarawak has received 199,797 Kenyalang Gold Card (KGC) applications since the inception of the programme last year, says Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah.
“Of the total number of applications, 184,084 (92 per cent) cards have been printed and 133,274 (72.4 per cent) have been distributed to the applicants,” she said during a press conference on KGC and the death compassionate assistance coordination here yesterday.
She added that 2,000 applications had been received as at Jan 22 this year, and 195 vendors had registered as KGC merchants including government agencies, private companies and commercial centres as at Jan 21 – these vendors would offer discounts, rebates or zero-fees on goods and services procured by KGC holders.
From the total, 86 vendors are located in Kuching, 11 in Samarahan, six in Serian, three in Sri Aman, two in Betong, three in Sarikei, one in Kapit, 24 in Sibu, five in Mukah, 32 in Miri, 12 in Bintulu, and 10 in Limbang.
Meanwhile, Fatimah said KGC’s RM3,000 death compassionate assistance had received a total of 2,224 applications, with 1,686 approved involving payments of RM5,058,000.
She said the aid was for KGC holders without any welfare assistance from the Public Service Department such as pensions, insurance, as well as contributions to Employment Provident Fund (EPF) and Social Security Organisation (Socso). Claims must be made within
90 days (three months) from the date of the cardholder’s death.