(Kuching, Jan 9) Dato' Dr. Ngu Piew Seng, President of the Sarawak Chinese Federation and President of the Sri Aman Chinese Chamber of Commerce, urges the Sarawak government to reassess and adjust the distribution method of the Sarawak Basic Needs Assistance (SKAS) to ensure that the aid truly benefits those in need in a more efficient and widespread manner, avoiding social chaos caused by the current model.
He pointed out that the Sarawak Basic Needs Assistance (SKAS) is an important financial aid program aimed at alleviating the living pressure of low-income groups. However, the current method of distributing digital vouchers through SPay Global's e-wallet has caused many inconveniences and troubles in practice, making some disadvantaged groups feel "troubled."
He stated that especially in the remote rural areas of Sarawak, many residents do not have network coverage, and many villagers do not even have basic smartphones, making it impossible for them to operate the registration and use process of the e-wallet. "For these disadvantaged groups, the aid money that is supposed to alleviate their living burdens has become unattainable due to the complex technical requirements, increasing their stress and burden. This distribution method undoubtedly exacerbates the digital divide between urban and rural areas."
Dato' Dr. Ngu Piew Seng in a statement today called on the Sarawak government, when implementing such aid programs, to fully consider the actual situation in various regions of Sarawak and adopt more flexible and inclusive approaches to expand the distribution channels of aid, not limiting the distribution method to the current SPay Global model. Instead, he suggested using more practical and direct bank account transfers or direct cash distribution, avoiding the need to register for online accounts that they may not use in the future.
He emphasized that such methods will more effectively cover disadvantaged groups, including single mothers, the elderly, long-term bedridden patients, and the homeless, truly realizing the original intention of the aid plan.
He mentioned that although the Minister of Women, Children, and Community Welfare in Sarawak, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, announced yesterday that the Sarawak government approved that all those registered with the Sarawak Social Welfare Department, including single mothers, the elderly, disadvantaged groups, and homeless patients, are eligible to receive the aid through their bank accounts.
He believes such eligibility is too narrow. He urges the government to expand the eligibility criteria so that all qualified Sarawak residents have the opportunity to receive the aid through bank accounts, ensuring the fairness and broadness of the aid.
Dato' Dr. Ngu Piew Seng pointed out that such adjustments can more broadly benefit disadvantaged groups and people in need of assistance, including single mothers, the elderly, long-term bedridden patients, and the homeless. "Don't let the funds intended to help people become a tool that increases the burden on the masses."
He suggested providing other flexible ways for those without bank accounts to receive aid, such as through postal services or other convenient offline channels to receive cash. He stated: “Regardless of the method used, the government must ensure that every eligible person can smoothly obtain the aid, avoiding the exclusion of some disadvantaged groups due to technical limitations.”
Dato' Dr. Ngu Piew Seng emphasized that the Sarawak government needs to truly consider from the people's perspective, listening more to the grassroots voices when formulating policies. Do not let the limitations of technology and digitization ignore the needs of disadvantaged groups. The government should ensure that the aid program is simple and convenient, allowing help to truly reach those in need, rather than causing more social issues.
He called on the government to pay high attention to these issues, optimizing the aid distribution mechanism, and avoiding over-reliance on digital platforms, which could cause difficulties for residents in remote areas.
“The original intention of the aid policy is to help those in need; any operational obstacles should be promptly eliminated to ensure that the aid program can achieve its original goal and truly benefit the entire populace.”