KUALA LUMPUR: The next-of-kin of four Health Ministry (MoH) staff who perished in a helicopter crash in Long Lellang, Ulu Baram, Sarawak, will receive at least RM130,000 each in lump-sum benefits.
MoH said the payments, which were being coordinated with the Public Service Department (PSD) and Sarawak Health Department, comprised several benefits including payment for unutilised leave, derivative gratuity, funeral management assistance and the Death Ex-Gratia payment.
"The total lump-sum payment eligible to be received by each victim is not less than RM130,000," it said in a statement.
The ministry said eligible dependents would also begin receiving monthly derivative pensions from Oct 21, with payments distributed according to each beneficiary's entitlement under existing legal provisions.
"Pension sharing is implemented to ensure that each eligible dependent receives their respective entitlement based on existing legal provisions," it said.
It said PSD would provide further explanations to the eligible beneficiaries on the distribution of the pensions.
"In addition, the families would receive dependents' pensions and benefits under the Work Disaster Ex-Gratia Scheme, which are currently being processed by the Sarawak Pensions Division and the Finance Ministry," it said.
As a further tribute to the four personnel, the ministry said their posthumous promotions had been proposed and endorsed by the Public Service Promotion Board at its meeting on Oct 13.
It said it remained committed to expediting pension payments and other assistance to the victims' families through coordination with the relevant agencies.
"The ministry is aware that no amount of money can replace the loss of a loved one. The ministry hopes the assistance will, to some extent, ease the financial burden and daily affairs of the bereaved families," it said.
It was reported that a Flying Doctor Service Bo-105 helicopter carrying five people crashed near the Long Lellang STOLport in Sarawak on Tuesday, killing all on board.
CAAM said it received notification of the incident from the Flight Information Service at 3.58pm.
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