Hand out food aid without delay – Junz
KOTA KINABALU: The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) state government has on Friday been urged to take charge and roll out various Covid-19 assistance programmes immediately, instead of waiting for Kuala Lumpur’s approval.
According to Warisan vice president Datuk Junz Wong, GRS must be proactive and decisive as Sabahans are suffering.
“Sabahans are suffering day by day. This is the second MCO and an emergency has also been declared. But no assistance, no economic programmes and no help has been announced.
“GRS should not wait for the greenlight from KL. GRS should take charge to assist Sabahans.”
Junz, who is also Tanjung Aru assemblyman, said he has started distributing food aid to his constituents on Thursday, in hopes of helping more Sabahans relieve the pressure.
“My office has started distributing food aid on Thursday.
“We are in the Opposition and our funding has been totally cut. But we will try to help as many as possible.
“But GRS who is the government now should have started distributing help immediately, so that Sabahans who are forced to stay at home have food to eat.
“Daily wage earners, the hardcore poor, hawkers and so forth are the worst hit.
“How can they be told to stay at home, when they are also worried about putting food on the table for their families?”
Lamenting the lack of proactiveness from GRS, Junz said the state government had yet to disclose how many Sabahans have received help from the government.
“Last month at the State Assembly, I asked how many people in Tanjung Aru have received the promised food basket from GRS.
“But there was no oral or written answer.
“Why the secrecy? Is GRS afraid to disclose the numbers because it is too low?
“Why don’t GRS disclose and break down how many recipients and from where, received the so called food basket?
“Between March and August 2020, when Warisan was government, a total of 11,100 food packs were distributed around Tanjung Aru. Warisan distributed without favouritism. We went door to door instead of limiting the food assistance to e-kasih.
“Between October to December 2020, as Opposition, my office further distributed 4,000 food packs around Tanjung Aru.
“How about GRS? Don’t tell me despite being the government, they are not able to even send out 1,000 packs?”
Junz said GRS must not practise favouritism.
“Please start sending out food assistance to all regardless of status. Everyone is suffering. Dont ‘pilih kasih’ because everyone is suffering.”