PETALING JAYA: Five siblings who lost their parents to Covid-19 are eligible to receive benefits under the Employees Social Security Act.

       Hadrami Hasil, 11, together with his younger siblings Humaira, nine, Harraz, eight, Hawwas, six, and Hannan, three, received a one-off funeral management benefit of RM2,000 and will be paid an invalidity pension of RM835.70 per month.They will continue to receive the benefit until they reach 21 or when they graduate from tertiary education.

       The children’s father, Hasil Tahal, 46, who owned a construction contracting company, died of Covid-19 on Aug 11, followed by their mother Ida Haryanie Abdul Razak, 38, a housewife, who died two months later on Oct 7.

       Based on the couple’s contribution records, Social Security Organisation (Socso) said only the wife was eligible to receive benefits under the Employees Social Security Act, and the three children met the eligibility conditions.

       Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan, together with a team, visited the children who now live in Kota Perdana, Seri Kembangan, and presented them with the benefits yesterday.

       “We feel very sympathetic and hope that the benefits will be of help to the children,” said Saravanan.

       Also present was Socso chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed.

       For now, the benefits will be channelled to the children through their grandfather, Abdul Razak Basiron, who is their guardian.

       “I have accepted that my daughter and son-in-law are both gone,” he said, adding that his family members were taking turns to take care of the five siblings.