Accept the Deepavali gifts, MB tells residents

RESIDENTS in Lumut, Perak, who received special Deepavali gifts from the state government should accept the gifts wholeheartedly, Makkal Osai reported Datuk Seri Dr Zambry bin Abdul Kadir as saying.

The Perak Mentri Besar was speaking after handing out gift baskets and cash gifts to around 600 underprivileged and disabled residents during a special event in SJK (T) Mukim Pundut on Thursday.

Zambry said four Indian political parties had been working together to make the gifts available for the needy to ease their burden during the festive season.

While some may say that the amount given out was small, it would still benefit the families of the recipients, he said.

The programme, which was started in 2009, should be accepted in the spirit of helping the families and they should ignore the negative comments, he said.

He urged the 600 constituents who had been identified as eligible to come forward to receive the gift packets from those in charge in their respective areas.

The special adviser to the mentri besar, Datuk V. Elango, chaired the event.