Eight agencies to receive Raya goodies
KUCHING: The Women and Family Department’s annual Sumbangsih Kuih Raya will cover eight agencies this year.
They are the Road Transport Department (JPJ), Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), Royal Malaysia Police ( PDRM), Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM), Fire and Rescue Department ( Bomba), Prisons Department, Immigration Department and Royal Malaysian Customs Department.
Minister of Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said the state government has allocated RM150,000 for the programme this year.
“The increase in budget enables us to increase from 6,000 packs last year to 7,500 this year.
“It is a token of appreciation and respect to the personnel of the agencies who will be on duty during the Hari Raya festive season, away from their families,” she told a press conference yesterday after chairing a meeting on preparations for this year’s Sumbangsih Kuih Raya.
The distribution will take place between June 12 and 18 at each agency, and all are expected to receive their packs no later than June 25.
Fatimah said there is an open tender process, where suppliers are invited to present samples of their products for tasting by the agencies themselves.
“Suppliers display their products and representatives from the eight agencies are allowed to taste and assess the products. The agencies will provide feedback and we will compile the feedback to select the best suppliers. It is a transparent process.
“On June 10, packaging will be done, involving various nongovernmental organisations ( NGOs) and departments. We also want to make sure that the packaging uses aluminium foil, to keep the products airtight and fresh,” she said.
She added that suppliers will have to put their names and contact numbers on their packaging for accountability, as well as include feedback cards.
Six types of products will be included in the packs – murukku, peanut cornflakes, kek hati parek, ‘serunding daging’, oat biscuits and fruitcake.
Sumbangsih Kuih Raya is a collaboration between the Women and Family Department, NGOs and various departments and agencies. It started in 1990 with just the armed forces and police.