SHAH ALAM: Fifty-five students in Selangor became orphans after losing their parents or guardians to Covid-19 from January 2020 to September this year, says Selangor executive councillor Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud (pic).

       Based on statistics from the Selangor State Education Department, a total of 1,648 students in the state lost at least one parent due to the pandemic during the same period, added the state public health, unity, and women and family development committee chairman at the Selangor state assembly yesterday.

       The three districts that recorded the highest number of orphans were Hulu Langat, Klang and Petaling Perdana, Bernama quoted her as saying.

       Siti Mariah was replying Lim Yi Wei (PH-Kampung Tunku), who wanted to know the number of orphans in Selangor due to the coronavirus from January 2020 to September 2021.

       Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff two months ago said the government identified 4,696 children orphaned due to Covid-19 as at September.

       The ministry had taken measures to ensure their welfare and education were taken care of, she said.

       Meanwhile, Selangor standing committee on non-Islamic affairs co-chairman V. Ganabatirau said the state government will coordinate the assistance for the Kasih Ibu Smart Selangor Ibu Tunggal (KISS-IT) initiative so that single mothers would benefit.

       The latest data as at October recorded 1,661 individuals receiving the benefits compared to the quota of 5,000 allocated.

       “The programme will be upgraded to the Bantuan Kehidupan Sejahtera Selangor (Bingkas) in the state Budget 2022,” he said in reply to Harumaini Omar (Pejuang-Batang Kali) who queried the allocated quota.