ALMOST 60% of Tabung Warisan Anak Selangor (Tawas) members have yet to claim the RM1,500 savings benefit promised under the state’s savings scheme upon reaching the age of 18.
Of the 21,268 Tawas members turning 18 this year, Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said that only 8,642 or 40.6% had submitted their claims, while the remaining 12,626 had yet to do so.
2026 is the first year Tawas members become eligible for the payout.
He said there had been difficulties in contacting eligible members, as some had moved to other states or overseas and changed their telephone numbers.
"We have contact numbers but the information is no longer up-to-date," he said when replying to a question from Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi (PN-Sijangkang) during the Selangor state assembly sitting at Bangunan Dewan Negeri Selangor in Shah Alam on Tuesday (Aug 4).
Amirudin said the state would intensify efforts to trace eligible members by working with local councillors and village heads.
Ahmad Yunus also asked a supplementary question on children who were not covered after Tawas was closed to new registrations in 2018 and before its replacement Iltizam Anak Selangor (Anas) was introduced in 2022.
Anas provides an annual contribution of RM100 for five years to eligible children born in Selangor from 2022 onwards, amounting to RM500 in total.
The money is deposited into the child's National Education Savings Scheme (Simpan SSPN) account and can only be withdrawn when the child reaches the age of 18.
The initiative is intended to encourage parents to cultivate a savings habit and support long-term financial planning for their children's education.
Ahmad Yunus also asked how much children under the Anas scheme could expect to receive when they turn 18.
Amirudin said Anas participants could potentially receive around RM1,500 upon reaching the eligible age, comprising the RM500 state contribution together with incentives available through the Simpan SSPN programme.
