KIRWaS allocation rises to RM320,000

SARAWAK has allocated RM320,000 for 2027 under the Sarawak Female Heads of Household Assistance (KIRWaS) programme to help women household heads start or sustain businesses.

Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said 276 entrepreneurs received RM1,000 each under the programme this year, bringing total assistance to RM276,000.

“For 2027, the government has allocated RM320,000 for the same purpose,” she said in her ministerial winding-up speech during the Budget State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here today (Oct 20).

Alongside KIRWaS, the ministry provided business equipment to 429 entrepreneurs this year through the Sarawak Women Empowerment Capital Grant, which offers assistance worth RM5,000 per recipient.

Fatimah said the recipients collectively generated RM1.72 million in income between April and October after receiving the grants.

Of these, 54 recorded monthly incomes exceeding RM2,150, with a food entrepreneur from Sibu earning the highest at RM26,000 a month.

The ministry’s efforts to help women earn their own income also extended to its Women Vocational Skills Training (WST) programme, which reached 3,505 participants as of September.

A total of 192 courses were conducted at Wisma Wanita and seven Community Sewing Skills Centres, alongside eight outreach programmes.

Fatimah said 3,008 participants, or 85.8 per cent, had used their newly acquired skills to generate income.

These included 1,702 participants who increased their earnings and 395 who previously had no income but were now earning their own.

“To ensure women’s self-reliance through economic empowerment and business sustainability, a total of RM1,119,000 has been allocated for 2026,” she said.