KOTA SAMARAHAN – Despite the Sarawak Endowment Fund initiative’s RM1,000 allocation for each Sarawakian child born, many parents have not yet opened an account, making children in rural Sarawak one of the groups most at risk of losing out on its benefits.
According to Sarawak’s Minister of Women, Children, and Community Wellbeing, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, the state government program was developed primarily to help low-income families, particularly those in rural and remote areas, make early educational preparations for their children.
“The Sarawak Endowment Fund is a crucial tool for providing basic savings for Sarawakian youngsters, particularly those from rural regions, until they turn 18. It can be utilised to further their education or skill development, creating chances to escape the vicious circle of life’s challenges,” she said.
During the inaugural ceremony of the Chegu Aiman Gold & Gadget Kota Samarahan Branch on Saturday, she made this statement to the media.
She also stated that starting in 2026, the Sarawak Endowment Fund will be managed by Affin Bank using a gold-based savings and investment strategy to guarantee that the fund’s value increases and that beneficiaries, particularly children from low-income families, receive more significant returns.
However, the state government’s goal of at least 80% of new births in Sarawak has not yet been met by the level of parental participation; among the primary causes are problems with awareness and information limitations in remote areas.
“Many parents in remote regions still don’t know about this fund or believe it’s difficult to apply. This fund is actually the right of Sarawakian children, and the state government wants to make sure that everyone, regardless of location, can access it,” she clarified.
In this regard, in addition to offering both manual and digital application options, the state government is currently stepping up collaboration with hospitals and health clinics, especially those in remote areas, to make it possible to register for the Sarawak Endowment Fund as soon as a child is born.
She emphasised that the Sarawak Endowment Fund is a long-term investment in the growth of the state’s human capital, particularly to guarantee that rural youngsters do not continue to fall behind in access to higher education.
“This initiative is a proactive step to ensure that Sarawakian children’s educational opportunities are not hindered by their financial background. However, parents’ awareness and actions to take advantage of the chances presented are crucial to its success,” she stated.
