Recipients not getting welfare aid for months

SEVERAL RECIPIENTS OF Welfare Department aid have complained that payments of the monthly aid into their bank accounts have been stopped for about five months.

According to some of the recipients, they did not know that an evaluation exercise was being undertaken as many said the problem lies with the failure of the department to pay the assistance into their bank accounts promptly.

The evaluation exercise only came to the fore after some of the recipients claimed that they had been interviewed as part of the evaluation exercise whereas others did not know about the exercise.

Recently, Sinurizang Binti Kumilau, 74, said her aid had been stopped since September 2010.

Sinurizang, who lives near Kampung Kirangawan in Kota Marudu, said her welfare aid was stopped for no apparent reason, and she did not know about the evaluation exercise being undertaken.

According to her, she did not understand why her aid was not reinstated as all of a sudden it was stopped in the first place.

"I really need my welfare aid as my four sons and daughters all have a family of their own and without the aid, I would have a hard time supporting myself," said Sinurizang.

"You see my grandchildren are many and we are living in a small house together. My son whom I am staying with is also jobless," she added.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Welfare Department headquarters in Sembulan, said to enable all the recipients to obtain aid from the department, they were required to renew their recipient card once a year.

"Maybe, in the case of this complaint, she failed to renew her card or failed to provide some information needed by the department.

"Therefore, we would like to advise the recipients of welfare aid to come to the nearest office in their district to clarify why their welfare aid has been stopped," he said.

According to the spokesperson, starting September, 2010 all the aid was credited to their bank accounts.

A spokesman from the Welfare Department in Kota Marudu said they would check the name list for this complainant and try to overcome the problem. (Source: The Borneo Post)