Bukit mertajam: A hawker who was involved in a road accident is grateful to have received temporary disability benefits of RM13,354 through the Social Security Organisation’s (Perkeso) Self-Employment Social Security Scheme (SKSPS).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, S. Vijayaletchime, 40, a mixed-rice seller at a kopitiam, recounted the incident involving her and her husband, S. Thiago, 50, that occurred in August last year. The couple was returning from a supermarket when they met with an accident near their home in Taman Machang Bubok. Vijayaletchime suffered knee and hip injuries, resulting in her being bedridden for about three months, during which she had to close her stall and lost her income.

She expressed her gratitude after receiving a mock cheque and a visit from Human Resources Minister Steven Sim, who is also the Bukit Mertajam member of parliament, along with Perkeso group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed. The benefits received helped her family settle debts and manage expenses, as they were supported by her daughter’s husband and her husband’s brother during her recovery.

Vijayaletchime, a mother of two children aged 23 and 17, also expressed thanks to Sim for sponsoring her SKSPS contribution. She emphasized the ease of claiming the benefits after the accident and recommended other traders to contribute to the scheme for unforeseen incidents.

Meanwhile, Sim highlighted that the Perkeso SKSPS contributions have been sponsored for over 3,000 hawkers in the Bukit Mertajam parliament constituency. He noted that this year, around 10 hawkers in the area have received various benefits from Perkeso, amounting to RM30,507.64. He further mentioned that throughout last year, 800,000 individuals registered for the SKSPS, leading to 3,557 claims totaling RM12.5 million by May 31.