Fatimah presenting a certificate to Agnes while Dr Toh, Chua and Noriah look on.
FINANCIAL assistance for the poor from Sarawak government is based on need and not race or religion, says state Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
“Sometimes, there are misconceptions that assistance is only given to one race,” she said at an appreciation certificate ceremony for Agnes Tiong Hui Sing, who won two bronze medals at the Special Olympic World Games 2023 in Berlin, Germany.
Fatimah said as long as applicants are Sarawakian, they could apply for assistance.
Fatimah said Agnes’ mother, Chua Hong Bing, needed monthly assistance as a single parent taking care of three children.
Chua, a kindergarten teacher, is also a former state Malaysia Games or Sukma taekwondo athlete.
On 14-year-old Agnes’ achievement in the table tennis single and double categories, Fatimah said credit should also go to her mother and coach, Mary Chung.
Fatimah also called on the Federal Government through the Youth and Sports Ministry to give incentives and recognition to Sarawak para-athletes who represented Malaysia at the recent Para-Asian Games.
“Sarawak will do the same under our Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Ministry,” she said.
Also present were ministry permanent secretary Noriah Ahmad and Hospital Sibu clinical research centre head Dr Toh Teck Hock.
