RM26,OOO skim untuk warga emas

Oleh: RAJA NORAINA RAJA AB RAHIM

AMPANG - Sebanyak RM26,OOO diperuntukkan oleh kerajaan negeri kepada warga emas dan waris kematian da­lam Program Warga Usia Emas.

Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Lembah Jaya, Khasim Abdul Aziz berkata, peruntukan tersebut disediakan kepada warga emas dan waris si mati dan mereka yang layak memohon diminta untuk tampil memberikan kerjasama dan me­nerima bantuan yang telah di­sediakan kepada mereka.

Menurutnya, bantuan wang tunai akan diberikan kepada waris kematian dan warga emas yang tinggal di Lembah Jaya dan juga sekitar Selangor.

"Mereka yang tinggal di Selangor melebihi 15 tahun juga berkelayakan untuk mendaftar di dalam Program Warga Usia Emas ini. Selain itu, waris-wa­ris bagi warga emas juga layak mendaftar dan memohon bantu­an tersebut," katanya.

"Ramai yang tidak me­ngetahui adanya Program Warga Usia Emas ini. Program ini juga dibuka kepada semua masyarakat yang tinggal di Selangor tanpa mengira kaum dan agama mereka," katanya ketika Program Bantuan Balik Ke Sekolah di Dewan Orang Ramai Kampoog Tasik Permai, baru-baru ini.

Beliau berkata, program sebegini diwujudkan atas inisia­tif kerajaan negeri bagi mem­bantu warga emas yang masih hidup dan ahli keluarganya atas jasa serta tenaga yang dihulur­kan kepada negeri Selangor se­panjang menetap di sini.

Malah, kerajaan negeri juga sentiasa prihatin dan peka kepada masyarakat Selangor di atas kerjasama yang diberi­kan kepada kerajaan negeri se­panjang pemerintahan kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat. Beliau berharap masyara­kat mengambil peluang yang telah disedikan ini demi mem­bantu memajukan negeri dan menjamin kesejahteraan ma­syarakat.

SINAR HARlAN Khamis 08 Januari 2009

Programme for senior citizens

Story and photo by OH ING YEEN

THE Selangor government will offer RM2,500 under a programme called “Mesra Usia Emas’’ to the senior citizen’s selected beneficiary upon death to help out with the funeral expenses or other expenses.

All senior citizens in Selangor aged 60 and above qualify for the programme. It is also for those born in Selangor or the Federal Territory before Feb 1, 1974 and those who have been residing in Selangor for at least 15 years.

According to the programme’s coordinator Kamsani Nasir from Rantaian Mesra Sdn Bhd, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) under the Mentri Besar Incorporation (MBI), this is one way for the state government to care for its people, especially the senior citizens.

“As far as I know, there is a similar scheme in Kelantan and there are plans to introduce it in Kedah as well.”

The beneficiary can collect RM1,000 from their respective state assemblyman within 24 hours after the death of the registered person.

All taken care of: Senior citizens getting help to fill the registration forms at the Chinese Temple in Serdang Lama recently.

“The beneficiary will have to present the original death certificate to collect the RM1,000. The state assemblyman will then stamp on the certificate to prevent people from collecting more than once. The beneficiary will receive the remaining RM1,500 within 60 days,” he said.

The forms for this programme can be obtained for free and should anyone tries to sell it a police report should be made.

“There have been cases where people have been conned into buying the form for RM10 or more and were promised help to register.

“We have been informed about the scam and the police have been notified as well,’’ said Kamsani.

Richard Yap, the special assistant to Damansara Utama assemblyman Dr Cheah Wing Yin, said he had received complaints from residents about the lack of publicity about the programme in the media, especially the English media.

“There are senior citizens coming to the DAP Damansara Utama service centre to register daily between 11pm and 2pm. However, so far only 1,000 have registered out of the 11,000 senior citizens in Damansara Utama. We have one of the highest number of senior citizens in the country.

“We have spread the word through Residents Associations (RAs), Rukun Tetangga and churches,” he said, adding that some do not want to register as they view it as a taboo as the money can only be obtained upon their deaths.

“There are also not many Malay and Indian senior citizens in Daman-sara Utama who have registered.” At Serdang Lama, 108 senior citizens registered for the scheme during a recent registration exercise held at the Chinese temple in the village.

Evonne Lee, the assistant of Selangor state executive councillor and Seri Kembangan state assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah said: “The registration can be done at the state assemblyman’s office. “However, we organised this programme in various areas in the constituency as a convenience to the villagers, especially senior citizens who are immobile or do not have transport.

“We will also go to the houses of senior citizens who are disabled to enable them to register,’’ she said. Some of the senior citizens at the temple said they did not consider the scheme as taboo and found the registration process quick and easy.

The senior citizens came with family members and among them was a 98-year-old grandmother who came with the aid of a walker to register.

Serdang Lama village head Liew Yen Fatt said the villagers knew about the scheme through word of mouth as well as well as from the Chinese newspapers.

To register, the senior citizens must bring along:

·Two photocopies of their IC;
·Two photocopies of the beneficiary’s IC; and
·Two photocopies of their caretaker’s IC (if he/she is not the beneficiary).

For more information about the Mesra Usia Emas programme, check with your local state assemblyman or call 03-5544 5578/ 03-5544 5579.

Tuesday November 11, 2008 The Star

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

Majlis Penyerahan Bayaran SMUE

Ijok, 25 Jan – Seramai 21 orang waris kepada rakyat Selangor di kawasan Dewan Undangan Negeri Ijok yang telah meninggal dunia telah menerima sumbangan di bawah Skim Mesra Warga Emas masing-masing berjumlah RM2,500.00.

Skim yang diperkenalkan mulai 1 Oktober 2008 telah disumbangkan kepada 1,050 keluarga bernilai RM2.5 juta. Skim ini bukan sahaja tertumpu kepada sumbangan khairat kematian tetapi Kerajaan Negeri berhasrat untuk meluaskannya meliputi bantuan kos perubatan warga emas dan pembelajaran waris. Bantuan khairat kematian melibatkan anak Selangor yang berusia 60 tahun ke atas dan bantuan disampaikan kepada waris dalam masa 24 jam selepas kematian dengan bantuan sekurang-kurangnya RM1,000.00 dan bakinya akan disampaikan kemudian.

Y.A.B Dato’ Menteri Besar dalam ucapannya berterima kasih kepada pihak media yang mula membuat liputan kepada Kerajaan Negeri secara telus dan terbuka dan berharap agar usaha-usaha Merakyatkan Ekonomi Selangor dapat disebarluaskan di kalangan rakyat. Beliau juga berharap agar program-program melibatkan kebajikan dan pembangunan wanita, belia dan pendidikan yang dijalankan oleh Kerajaan Negeri sentiasa mendapat sokongan semua. Y.A.B. sempat beramah mesra bersama keluarga penerima dan masyarakat Tionghua di Pekan Ijok sempena sambutan perayaan Tahun Baru Cina selepas majlis tersebut.

Sumber : Pejabar Daerah Kuala Selangor

Bukti keprihatinan kerajaan negeri

DENGKIL -Skim Mesra Warga Emas yang berkuat kuasa di Selangor sejak 1 Oktober 2008 lalu, adalah skim berbentuk bantuan sumbangan wang se­gera kepada waris atau pen­jaga warga emas yang meninggal dunia selepas 1 Oktober ini.

Pengarah Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Dengkil, Mohd Hamidi Mohamed berkata melalui skim tersebut wang bantuan segera yang berjum­lah RM1,000 akan diserahkan serta merta kepada waris atau penjaga warga emas yang me­ninggal dunia.

"Manakala baki berjumlah RM1,500 akan diserahkan da­lam tempoh sebulan selepas ta­rikh meninggal dunia.

"Bantuan ini adalah inisia­tif untuk meringankan beban waris dalam menguruskan je­nazah," katanya ketika ditemui di Pusat Khidmat Masyarakat Dengkil.

Mohd Hamidi berkata, an­tara syarat-syarat untuk men­dapatkan bantuan itu ada­lah ahli mestilah warga emas berumur 60 tahun ke atas, la­hir dan sedang menetap di Selangor atau lahir di Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur se­belum 1 Februari 1974, dan se­dang menetap di Selangor atau telah bermastautin di Selangor secara sah sekurang-kurangnya 15 tahun.

"Pewaris yang ingin me­nuntut bantuan ini perlu menyertakan bersama salinan permit penguburan, sijil mati serta kad pengenalan penama semasa tuntutan dibuat.

"Bagaimanapun semua warga emas ini digalakkan un­tuk mengisi borang sebagai ahli warga emas bagi memudahkan pihak Jawatankuasa DUN me­ngenal pasti warga emas yang berada dalam DUN Dengkil,"
katanya.

Menurutnya, bantuan skim mesra warga emas ini juga akan diberikan kepada semua rakyat Selangor tidak mengira janti­na, agama, kaum, kedudukan mahupun fahaman politik se­lagi menepati syarat-syarat di­tetapkan.

Beliau berkata, baki wang bantuan tersebut akan di­sampaikan secara berkelompok kepada waris-waris (jika berla­ku lebih dari satu kematian da­lam satu masa yang dekat).

"Skim yang dilancarkan ini bertepatan dengan mani­festo kerajaan negeri seperti yang dijanjikan pada kempen pilihan raya lalu," katanya. .

Bagi mereka yang ingin mengetahui maklumat lanjut atau mendapatkan borang permohonan, boleh datang terus ke Pusat Khidmat Masyarakat yang terletak di No 10 Jalan Cyber Valley 1 A/1, Cyber Valley Commercial Center, 43800 Dengkil, Sepang.

SINAR HARlAN Sabtu 27 Disember 2008

100 up Uncle Naraya still on the go

By Halim Said

halimsaid@nstp.com.my

PETALING JAYA: Most peo­ple, rich or poor, don't get to welcome the New Year like Uncle Naraya.

Uncle Naraya, whose full name is K.S. Naraya Iyer Sub­ramania Vidhyar, has just ushered in the New Year at the grand age of 100.

The centenarian, who still hops on buses in PJ, attributes his longevity to long walks and a strict diet.

Uncle Naraya, who was born on Nov 5, 1908 in Kerala, India, came to Malaya in 1924.

In 1934, he married S. Man­galambal and fathered three boys and three girls. His wife died in 1977.

Vijaya, 64, the youngest of Naraya's children, said his fa­ther led an active life. Naraya stopped driving when he was 70 years old.

"He would have his morning walks near his home and walk as far as 2km before having a breakfast of vege diet. My fa­ther still shaves himself," said Vijaya.

Naraya's daughter-in-law S. Jeya, who looks after him at her home in PetaIing Jaya, said he has no health prob­lem.

"He has been a vegetarian since young. His only problem is his eyesight as he is partially blind. He had to quit his morn­ing walks as age has weak­ened his movements," she said.

"He was also active in the stock market and was once a stock consultant, .. she said.

Naraya retired in 1968 as an assistant engineer in the Se­langor Drainage and irriga­tion Department.

Kampung Tenku assembly­man Lau Weng San visited Narayana recently and regis­tered him under the Selangor state "Mesra Usia Emas" scheme. The scheme offers the registrants' next-of kin RM2,500 for funeral expens­es.

Rodziah Ismail, who is in charge of state welfare, wom­en affairs, science, technology and innovation, said the Mesra Usia Emas scheme started last October and 60,000 old folks have registered.”

"The scheme is designed in such a way to give proper buri­al and respect to the deceased. There are cases when families have to borrow money for the burial costs.

To avoid abuse of the fund, Rodziah said village chiefs or state assemblymen will get de­taiis of the deceased as well as of the beneficiaries.

"Proper documents need to be looked into. As the death certificate will take some time to be issued, documents like police reports and burial certificates will be sufficient," she said.

Rodziah said relatives of registered Selangor residents who die in other states while travelling and are buried outside Selangor, are also eligible for the fund.

The Mesra Usia Emas scheme applies to those aged 60 and above, those born in Selangor or the Federal Territory before Feb 1, 1974 or those who have been residing in Selangor for at least 15 years.

The beneficiaries will have to produce original death certificate of the deceased to collect RM1,000 from the state assemblymen. The assemblymen will then stamp the certificates to prevent people from collecting more than once. The remaining RM1,500 will be issued within 60 days.

To register for the scheme, senior citizens must bring along two photocopies of their IC, two photocopies of the beneficiaries' IC; and two photocopies of their caretakers' IC (if he/she is not the beneficiary).

For details, call 03-5544 5578/ 03-5544 5579.

News Straits Times Isnin 05/Jan/2009