RM728.5 Million Spent on Welfare Aid for Seniors, PwD and Chronic Patients

KUCHING, Aug 22, 2026 – The Social Welfare Department has disbursed about RM728.5 million nationwide up to June this year to support senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PwD), and chronic patients, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.

She explained that the allocation was channelled through the Senior Citizen Assistance (BWE) and the Assistance for Care of Bedridden Persons with Disabilities and Bedridden Chronic Patients (BPT). “To ease the burden on families, the Social Welfare Department also assists with the care of bedridden persons with disabilities, bedridden chronic patients and non-bedridden chronic patients who meet the eligibility criteria,” Nancy said.

Welfare Aid

As of June, 42,036 recipients nationwide had benefited from BPT, involving RM119.5 million, while 170,133 recipients received BWE, amounting to RM609 million. In Sarawak alone, 23,034 senior citizens received RM94.3 million under BWE, while RM10.4 million was channelled to 3,235 BPT recipients.

Nancy stressed the importance of strengthening the country’s care ecosystem, particularly to safeguard caregivers. “That is why, through SPeKTRUM, caregivers are provided with training, psychosocial support and motivation so that they can provide the best care without neglecting their own health,” she added.

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