THE Penang government has spent a total of slightly over RM32.4 million for some 234,000 eligible recipients under the i-Sejahtera programme for this year.
The welfare programme was initiated by the state government in 2009 with the aim of helping those from underprivileged background.
The i-Sejahtera programme includes ‘Pelajar Emas’, Senior Citizen, Single Mother, ‘Ibu Emas’, ‘Anak Emas’, the physically challenged, funeral expenses and Equitable Economic Agenda (AES).
State Welfare and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said disbursement of payment through such programme is a testament that the Penang government cares for its people.
“The state government also encourages recipients of the i-Sejahtera programme to opt for payment through electronic fund transfer (EFT).
“This is mainly because the EFT method is more convenient for the money to be deposited directly into the recipient’s bank account, without having him or her to be physically present to receive the cash payment.
“Out of the 233,881 recipients this year, 209,737 were paid through EFT.
“Thus, we would like to advise that more recipients of the programme to opt for EFT payment especially during this Covid-19 situation,” Phee (PH-Sungai Puyu) told the State Legislative Assembly during his winding-up speech at the State Assembly Building in Light Street on Sept 2.
Phee said the state government also has spent a total of RM220,000 to upgrade the system of i-Sejahtera to facilitate the registration and payment process.
“The new system has been put in use since Aug 1 this year,” he added.
On a separate matter, Phee announced that the Penang government, through Mutiara Food Bank initiative, has successfully collected a whopping 1,082,000kg or 1,082 tonnes of food (as of June this year) benefiting 62,238 recipients in the state since its inception in 2017.
He said the Mutiara Food Bank was established with the aim of distributing edible food (from going to waste) to the poor.
“At the moment, the food distribution areas cover 11 parliamentary and 22 state constituencies involving 75 MPKKs (Village Community Management Councils).
“The food distribution from this initiative also helps to alleviate the burden of those who are greatly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic,” Phee said.
Phee also added that since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic from March last year until August 2021, the state government has spent RM1.54 million for the purchase of 30,800 food baskets for distribution to the needy.
“Apart from that, every state assemblyman and Member of Parliament (MP) in Penang, including the opposition members, was given a special allocation of RM50,000 each to give immediate assistance to their constituents. The total cost of this allocation was RM2.95 million.
“With this, we can at least reduce their burden and also reduce the number of people who need to be helped in the state,” he added.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad and Darwina Mohd Daud