Give food aid to everyone affected by MCO – PBS
KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) has urged the Sabah government to help all the people in this difficult moment as everyone is affected by the Covid-19 Movement Control Order (MCO).
Its supreme council member, Goon Thien Shang, said yesterday the government should look at everyone regardless of their earnings and locations when giving the food aid and not focus on certain targeted groups.
“Many of those in the urban areas have not received the food aid since the distribution started although we were told it would be handed out in phases,” Goon said after handing over a name list of those appealing for food aid to Kota Kinabalu City Hall’s Community Well-being Department director Anidah Hartini Ag Said at her office in Centre Point Sabah.
Goon said PBS had initiated a registration exercise to help those living in the urban areas to get the food aid after receiving numerous complaints from the disgruntled urban dwellers.
He cited a complainant shared that she was kicked around like a ball when she called up the Community Development Leaders (UPPM) on how to apply for the food aid.
“The UPPM told the complainant that the food aid is distributed based on the state constituency of where her name is registered in the electoral roll.
“Fine, she followed the instruction and called the next UPPM who is in charge of the constituency that she is registered.
“However, to her disappointment, the UPPM informed that the food aid is only for those living in the villages who really can’t afford to buy food.
“The UPPM went on to tell the complainant that the first batch of the food aid has already been distributed and now waiting for the second batch to arrive,” Goon related
Goon also found out that the government allocated funds for the food aid was channeled directly to the UPPM and not to the City Hall and the district office.
The food aid known as Sabah’s UPPM grassroots community economy stimulus package is valued at RM100 for each recipient.
And the items to be received are 10kg of rice, four kilos of sugar, four plastics of cooking oil, four packets of coffee, two pact of noodles, one pact of biscuit and two tins of sardine.
“However, some villagers received less than the RM100 value and many have posted their dismal expression on the social media,” Goon said and urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate.