KUCHING: A total of 886,288 Sarawakians with the letter "K" in their identification card are eligible to receive financial assistance under the Sarawak Basic Needs Contribution (SKAS), Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said today.
He said they included 410,529 households, 361,195 unmarried individuals and 114,464 senior citizens without a spouse or children.
"Each household will receive RM800 with financial implications of RM328.4 million, RM250 each for unmarried individuals with financial implications of RM90.3 million and RM400 each for senior citizens with financial implications of RM45.8 million," he told reporters after visiting the Sarawak Civil Service Centre at the Urban Transformation Centre here.
He said a sum of RM450 million has been set aside for financial assistance under the SKAS initiative under the 2025 State Budget.
He said 27 per cent or 244,000 out of 886,288 have registered for the financial assistance as of this morning.
He added that SKAS is a financial assistance to low-income groups through digital vouchers, which can be accessed via the state-run S Pay Global Application (e-wallet) for the purchase of basic food items.
"I hope that this financial assistance can help to lighten the burden faced by the low-income group in view of the high cost of living," he said.
The premier said it is the state government's wish to see that there is food on the table for all the communities, adding that the financial assistance is only to buy essential food items, including rice, sugar, salt, milk and coffee or tea.
He said the state government doesn't want children to attend school on an empty stomach.
He said the state government has initiated to provide financial assistance as the revenue of the state has increased and should be given back to society.
He said those eligible are Sarawakians with a "K" identification card residing in Sarawak and who are recipients of the 2024 Phase 4 Cash Contribution (STR) based on Inland Revenue Board information.
He said those not listed in the STR but meet the eligibility criteria can submit applications from Feb 1 to March 31.
He said the state government will mobilise the administrative machinery throughout Sarawak to help implement the SKAS initiative, including the Residents of the 12 Divisions and District Officers, local authorities, Service Sarawak Centres and other administrative machinery.
He said he will distribute SKAS in Serian Division on Feb 18, adding that the SKAS assistance will be credited to the recipients' S Pay Global e-wallets from the same date.
"However, Sarawakians who are eligible and have not yet registered with S Pay Global need not worry because registration is open throughout the year," he said.
He said the state government has allocated over RM2 billion under various forms of financial and welfare assistance to the state people this year.