SANDAKAN: Monday 31st January 2011
The Government has been urged to ensure the assistance given under the e-Kasih system in Sabah is capable of eradicating poverty among the people. Sukau Assemblyman Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman said failure to record the actual number of qualified hardcore poor household heads (Kirts) for various assistance would not only hamper development of the people, especially in rural areas, but also affect the Government's effort to make Sabah a developed State by 2015.
" For example, in my constituency, I have never seen anycivil servant entrusted with the implementation of the e- Kasih system visiting here to record the Kirt group. "This is because the 731 Kirts here registered with the Kinabatangan District Office were done through the initiative of my staff at the People's Development Leader Unit for Sukau.
" Of the number, only 527 Kirts received government assistance under the Kinabatangan Poverty Eradication Programme 2010. There are many Kirts here, including those yet to be registered, who need to be given attention under the programme," he said when presenting fishing equipment worth RM10,000 each to 37 recipients under the Income Enhancement Programme under the People's Well being Development Scheme (SPKR), here.
It was learnt that the e- Kasih system in Sabah is implemented by the state Development Office (SDO) under the Prime Minister's Department. Out of the 527 Kirts, saddi said, 113 were recipients of Housing Assistance Programme (PBR) 55 the Income Enhancement Programme (PPP) and 90 listed as recipients of the Economic Enhancement Programme (PPES).
He described such number in Sukau as "too small" compared to the number of Kirts who are in dire need of government assistance and attention. Hence, Saddi has targeted to register more than 1,500 Kirts to receive assistance under SPKR before end of this year. He also assigned that one of three special lab committees created under his constituency office to ensure smooth implementation of the e-kasih system for the benefit of the people in Sukau.
" I also suggest that SDO officers go down to the ground and meet the grassroots, including in Sukau, to see for themselves the level of poverty and take pro-active measures to ensure success of the e-kasih system.
" I would also like to remind the community leaders like the headmen and JKKK chairmen to play their roles accordingly and complement the Government's efforts to ensure success of the system, he said. On contribution of the fishing equipment, Saddi advised the recepients not to abuse government assistance, including not selling them for quick money.
He said he would not hesitate to take action against those recipients found selling the fishing equipment like boats, fishing net and outboard engines for profitteering purposes.