PETALING JAYA: Two victims of the Kemaman water surge tragedy are eligible for Social Security Organisation (Socso) benefits, according to Socso.
In a statement on Saturday (July 8), Socso announced that the victims who tragically lost their lives would receive benefits under the Invalidity Scheme (Skim Keilatan). This scheme provides coverage to employees who suffer from invalidity or death due to any cause unrelated to their employment.
Under the scheme, the next-of-kin of Karim Abdullah, 39, and Muhammad Fiqri Sulaiman, 24, will receive a one-off funeral management assistance payment of RM2,000.
“Karim’s contribution as a former heavy machinery operator at a logging company qualifies his next-of-kin to receive Penakat Pension benefits,” Socso stated. “However, since his wife, children, and parents were all lost in the same incident, there are no eligible next-of-kin for the Penakat Pension.”
Socso, through its chapter in Kemaman, Terengganu, swiftly obtained information about the victims involved in the tragedy during the search and rescue (SAR) operation on the second day.
“Socso will gather the details of the next-of-kin as quickly as possible to expedite the payment of funeral benefits,” the organization added.
On July 1, 10 individuals, including a family of nine, who were picnicking at the Air Putih waterfall, were swept away by a water surge. So far, nine bodies have been recovered.
The search for the last victim, Putri Nor Fatin Karim, 14, is ongoing.
The bodies of the nine identified victims, including Karim and Muhammad Fiqri, have been laid to rest.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
