Programme to help Selangor folk

Story by OH ING YEEN

MANY are still unaware of the welfare programmes offered by the Selangor state government.

This is evident in the small number of people who registered for these programmes. So far 1,424 have registered.

An example is the Tabung Anak Selangor (Tawas) programme.

Tawas project marketing officer Normaizatuniza Samian said it was one of the key programmes launched by the state government to ensure the state’s wealth directly benefited its citizens.

“All those born on Jan 1, 2008 and after with at least one parent born in Selangor, are eligible. Through Tawas, Selangor will make a savings gift contribution of RM100 for every eligible child. On the child’s 18th birthday, he or she is entitled for RM1,500 from Tawas.

“Tawas is a savings fund. The purpose of creating the fund is to ensure the revenue of the state, such as from its natural resources, is enjoyed by the citizens. The fund will be managed by a team of professional investment managers to ensure the money will grow over time,” she said,

Normaizatuniza added that bibs and caps for babies would be given out to those who register on a first-come-first-served basis.

"All those born on Jan 1, 2008 and after with at least one parent born in Selangor, are eligible" - NORMAIZATUNIZA SAMIAN

Cheah Yoke Yin registered her four-month-old son for the programme in October. “The registration process was very easy. However, not many people know about it and there must be more publicity on the programme,” she said. Kong Yoke Loong came to know about the programme from his friend.

“Although the amount is small, it is better than nothing. I would prefer for the money to be banked into the account each year instead of having to wait for the lump sum after 18 years,” said the 33-year-old salesman.

Nor Faizal Paiman, a 30-year-old government servant, applauds the move.

“I have spread the news to my friends, especially those living in the villages. Some of them have not heard of Tawas while some who are IT-savvy, found out about it through the official website.”

In an interview, Rantaian Mesra Sdn Bhd chief executive officer A Shukor Tahir said: “The lack of public awareness on the Tawas programme is probably because we are not marketing it well but we will improve on it. “So far, 1,424 have registered. We are now promoting it through the website, road shows and newspapers.

“People can look forward to more improvements to the programme as it is only in its early stage,” he said. He added that the Tawas card would be launched on Feb 7.

For more details, call Tawas at 03-5510 3498 or log on to http://www.selangor.gov.my/ for more information about Tawas and the other welfare programmes offered by the state government.

Friday January 30, 2009

Skim bantuan perlu dihebahkan

Oleh: AZIMAH GHAZALI

BANDAR BARU SELAYANG­ - Jawatankuasa Penduduk (JKP) yang terletak di bawah kelolaan Majlis Perbandaran Selayang (MPS) disarankan menganjur­kan program penerangan me­ngenai bantuan-bantuan yang disampaikan kerajaan nege­ri untuk penduduk pada masa sekarang.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Dewan Undangan Negeri (JPD) Pusat Khidmat Masyarakat (PKM) DUN Taman Templer, Mohd Kassim Packiry berkata, saranan untuk mengadakan program berkena­an perlu dibuat bagi menafikan dakwaan bahawa peruntukan sumbangan atau insentif ber­kaitan yang dijanjikan Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Selangor hanyalah omongan kosong.

"Mungkin ada yang kata kerajaan negeri bohong apa­bila mereka tidak mendapat sumbangan yang diberikan, lebih-Iebih lagi apabila diapi-­apikan pihak tertentu. Padahal, sesetengah kita ada yang tidak faham mengenai banyak ben­tuk bantuan yang telah disedia­kankan kerajaan negeri atau tidak mengetahui prosedur yang se­patutnya untuk mendapatkan bantuan.

"Bagaimanapun, kita ber­harap dengan adanya program penerangan ini, orang ramai dapat diberikan penjelasan ber­hubung bantuan-bantuan yang disalurkan kerajaan negeri, se­lain boleh terus bertanyakan se­barang kemusykilan. Kita juga ingin menekankan bahawa se­mua borang adalah percuma, tanpa ada sebarang bayaran," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian pada 'Majlis penerangan dan peruntukan yang telah disedia­kan Kerajaan Negeri Selangor' anjuran PKM DUN Taman Templer di Dewan Surau Ar­-Raudah, Dahlia B di sini, kelmarin.

Turut hadir pada program tersebut Ahli Majlis MPS, Zon 4, A Murugeshu dan Yang Dipertua Pas Kawasan Selayang yang juga Penyelaras PKM DUN Taman Templer, Mohamad Abdul Rahman.

Dalam pada itu, Kassim tidak menafIkan terdapat pel­bagai bentuk bantuan yang disediakan kerajaan negeri se­belum ini khususnya melalui pihak berkuasa tempatan (PBT) bagi menyalurkan bantuan ber­kenaan.

Namun katanya, pihak­nya mendapati ramai tidak tahu adanya bantuan yang di­sediakan berikutan usaha me­nguar-uarkan bantuan berkena­an tidak disebarkan, malah 'diperap' atau 'disembunyi­kan' pihak terbabit dengan niat tertentu.

Sementara itu, Pengerusi JKP Persiaran Taman Templer, Mohd Nazir Kahar, 33, ketika mengulas program di akhir majlis berkata, penerangan yang diberikan telah mem­buka mata sesetengah pen­duduk yang sebelum ini terta­nya-tanya akan kebenaran dan janji kerajaan negeri.

Terdahulu, PKM DUN Taman Templer telah meng­adakan beberapa penerangan mengenai jenis bantuan, selain pelbagai aktiviti telah dijalan­kan dalam usaha membantu rakyat dalam hal-hal kebajik­an dan masalah penduduk yang berkaitan. .

Antaranya mengenai sumbangan warga emas, ibu tunggal, pendidikan, anak yatim, dan pelajar cemelang. Sebarang pertanyaan lanjut mengenai bentuk bantuan yang disediakan penduduk boleh datang ke PKM DUN Taman Templer, beralamat di Nombor 71 A, Jalan 2/16, Bandar Baru Selayang, atau menghubungi talian 03-6120 5724.

SINAR HARlAN Selasa 06 Januari 2009