ISKANDAR PUTERI: The state government has spent about RM1.5 million to help children who lost their parents or guardians to Covid-19.
Yayasan Pembangunan Keluarga Darul Takzim chief executive officer Nurul Naqiah Fadzil said the state government had allocated RM3 million for the purpose and the foundation had spent some 50 per cent of the allocation to date.
"This is a long-term commitment of the state government. We will continue to help these children until they are 18 and if they continue their studies, we will extend the help until they are 21."
She said to date, 1,188 children in Johor had benefitted from the Anak Johor Prihatin programme.
"There are three initiatives under the programme, namely education savings and insurance coverage, cash assistance and moral support assistance," said Nurul Naqiah after the launching of the programme by Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi at Legoland Malaysia here.
Present was State Secretary Tan Sri Azmi Rohani.
Nurul Naqiah said 91 children from Johor Baru received the assistance at the event today.
"This event is part of the programme's moral support assistance. We want them to have some fun and forget their sadness for a little while."
She said the foundation was collaborating with the Education Department to identify more orphaned children.
"This is a continuous process. We will continue to identify those who are eligible for this programme," she said.
Among the recipients at the event were brothers Mohamad Syazrul Haqimi Mohamad Taufik, 17, and Mohamad Syahmi Danish and Mohamad Taufik, 14, who lost their parents to Covid-19 last September.
The brothers' sister, Syazliana Fatihah, 21, said their parents, Mohamad Taufik Mohamed Matin, 45, and Che Suriana Che Ab Rahman, 42, succumbed to Covid-19 on Sept 1 and 7 respectively, after the whole family was infected with the virus in August last year.
"Of course, we are saddened but we have accepted this fate. I will continue to take care of my brothers."
She said she was grateful and relieved that the state government had shown its concern with the plight of children who lost their parents or guardians to Covid-19.
"I would like to thank the state government for the assistance. It would help lessen our burden."