KUALA NERUS: The widow of Terengganu football legend Zulharisam Awang, 51, described the Survivors' Pension benefits received through the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) as a special gift from her late husband.
Nik Noratiza Nik Abd Aziz, 47, said her husband's death on Feb 5 due to liver and bowel cancer had a profound impact on her and their three children.
Apart from losing a loved one, Nik Noratiza, a full-time housewife, said she also had to think of ways to supplement the family's income as her three children are still studying in primary and secondary school and at the Teacher Education Institute, Penang Campus.
"My late husband used to work as a general services assistant at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), so the pension is small," she said.
"But I didn't expect him to have contributed to SOCSO. Alhamdulillah, with this Survivors' Pension, I can further ease the burden of supporting my children who are still studying," she said when met at her residence in Kampung Wakaf Baru, Gong Badak, near here on Tuesday (March 10).
Meanwhile, Terengganu SOCSO director Farihah Che Husin said Nik Noratiza is eligible for a Survivors' Pension of RM764.58 per month for life starting this March.
In addition, she said her office has also provided a Funeral Benefit of RM3,000 for the funeral arrangements.
"The deceased's three children, aged between 12 and 19, will also receive assistance until they complete their first degree studies," she added.
"We hope this assistance can ease the burden on the deceased's family, especially as Muslims will soon be celebrating Aidilfitri," she said.
She added that Terengganu SOCSO disbursed RM15.7mil to contributors and their next of kin in the state last year, involving 2,965 cases.
