‘Sabah govt gave out RM97.3m in aid’
The Sabah government has distributed more than RM97.3 million worth of RM300 one-off cash aid to 324,573 recipients under Covid-19 Bantuan Prihatin 2.0.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said 296,638 food baskets had been distributed up to yesterday.
He said the distribution of various aid proved that the state government was committed to helping the people, especially those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Last year, the state government allocated additional assistance of RM160 million for those affected by the pandemic.
“The RM160 million assistance was in addition to the immediate allocation of RM50 million approved by the state government in early October,” he said after officiating the Maxis food basket aid donation programme in Kampung Serusup here.
Present were State Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, District Officer Sadan Husaain and Maxis Sabah regional head Bhaarathyraja Thanapal.
Hajiji, who is Sulaman assemblyman, thanked Maxis for donating the food baskets.
“Many companies and nongovernmental organisations have come forward to help and we are hoping more will do the same.”
Bhaarathyraja said Maxis had donated RM500,000 to Yayasan Kebajikan Negara to provide 5,000 boxes of food to those severely affected by Covid-19 and the floods.
“From that amount, 2,000 boxes of food were distributed to the B40 group in Sabah, with 1,700 already distributed since January.
“The recipients were from Kinarut, Kota Belud, Papar, Penampang, Beaufort, Putatan, Tawau and Lahad Datu. Today (yesterday), 300 boxes of food were distributed in three villages in Tuaran — Serusup, Tajau and Bolong Lama.”