Khairin-Nisa (second from right) handing over donations to AMJ recipients during a programme in Serom, Muar.
Johor government has allocated RM1.8mil this year in the Anak Angkat Makmur Johor (AMJ) programme to support children who lost their parents or guardians to Covid-19.
Johor women, family and community development committee chairman Khairin-Nisa Ismail noted the pandemic had severely impacted families in Malaysia.
“This included a rise in the number of orphans, including those who lost both parents.
“There was also a surge in domestic violence cases and psychological trauma among children,” she said when contacted.
She said AMJ was a social welfare initiative by the Johor government.
It aims to support vulnerable children born, residing or schooling in Johor, and who had lost one or both of their parents or guardians to Covid-19.
Khairin-Nisa said many of these children continued to suffer emotional and financial hardship.
“Deaths caused by Covid-19 are still being reported,” she noted.
She said 1,240 children had been registered under the programme as of December 2024.
“Many of these children experienced trauma as they were unable to be near their parents in their final moments at hospitals or even attend the funerals, due to quarantine protocols,” she added.
The AMJ programme supports them until they reach 18 or 21, should they pursue tertiary education.
Throughout school, they benefit from school starter kits and academic excellence awards, depending on the annual budget.
In addition to financial support, the children receive counselling services and take part in motivational programmes as well as family-oriented events.
Peer support groups also help them cope with grief and build resilience.
“A key component of the initiative is cash aid of RM1,200 per child,” said Khairin-Nisa.
“The programme also includes long-term educational support via the National Education Savings Scheme (SSPN) Prime, with RM1,000 annual contributions to the bank accounts of AMJ children who were orphaned due to Covid-19.
“The SSPN offers competitive dividends, free takaful coverage, tax relief up to RM8,000 and eligibility for PTPTN (National Higher Education Fund Corporation) loans.
“This financial support is crucial to ease the short- and long-term burdens of caregivers, especially in covering educational expenses,” she said, adding the initiative is carried out in collaboration with multiple agencies.
These include the Johor Education Department, Welfare Department, Johor Health Department, National Registration Department, PTPTN and various private companies.
