Sarawak Newborn Endowment Management: Affin Bank Takes Over from 2025

(MIRI, 18th) The Sarawak government has announced that starting from January 1, 2025, the management of the Sarawak Newborn Endowment (Endowment Fund Sarawak, EFS) will be taken over by Affin Bank, applicable to Sarawak infants born from that date onwards.

Meanwhile, for infants born up until December 31, 2024, their EFS accounts will continue to be managed by Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad.

Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, Sarawak’s Minister for Women, Children, and Community Wellbeing Development, made this announcement at the handover ceremony for the Sarawak Newborn Endowment and Maternity Assistance (Bantuan Ibu Bersalin, BIB) at the new Miri Hospital building this morning.

She reminded applicants that EFS applications can now be submitted at any of the 49 National Registration Department (JPN) branches across Sarawak. For applicants residing outside Sarawak, they can mail the required documents to the Births, Deaths, and Adoptions Division at the Sarawak State JPN Headquarters.

EFS Supports Children's Future Development: Over 130,000 Accounts Opened

Introduced in 2019, the EFS is a Sarawak government initiative that provides RM1,000 in trust savings for every Sarawak-born child, regardless of race, religion, or socio-economic status. The fund aims to assist children in their future higher education, career start-ups, or small business ventures.

Since its implementation on January 1, 2019, a total of 132,925 EFS accounts have been opened as of February 28, 2025, with an allocation of RM132.9 million.

BIB Continues to Benefit: Nearly 80,000 Mothers Benefited

The Maternity Assistance (BIB) program, launched on January 1, 2020, provides a one-off cash assistance of RM450 to eligible Sarawakian mothers or the spouses of 'K'-status MyKad holders to aid in postnatal care expenses, like nutritious supplements and personal care.

As of February 28, 2025, BIB has benefited 79,706 mothers, involving an expenditure of RM35.8 million. The Sarawak government has also confirmed that this program will continue in 2025.

BIB applications can be manually submitted through Divisional or District Welfare Offices, District Offices, or the BIB Secretariat at Baitul Makmur 2 Building in Kuching, or online via iSarawakCare.

Present at today’s ceremony were Deputy Minister Datuk Rosey Yunus and Miri Hospital Director Dr. Jack Wong.