JOHOR BARU: Johor Opposition assemblymen are crying foul over the state government's free rice programme saying they too should be involved in channelling aid to people in the state.

       State Opposition chief Liew Chin Tong said Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi had announced that Johoreans would receive 10kg of rice before May 31.

       "However, there are no details how the aid will be distributed, either for each resident or household.

       "This has caused millions of Johoreans to wonder about the aid.

       "The government should implement the rice aid programme where each head of household will receive 10kg of rice in a transparent and effective manner," he said in a Facebook post on Sunday (May 15).

       Liew, who is Perling assemblyman, claimed the state had created more problems when excluding Opposition assemblymen from the implementation of the programme.

       "Instead, it appointed Barisan Nasional coordinators for 16 Opposition state seats to distribute the rice. This creates difficulties in distribution," he claimed.

       Liew said Pakatan Harapan and Muda assemblymen had, in a joint statement on April 28, called for the Johor government to involve Opposition assemblymen who had been elected by the people in the administrative process.

       Liew added that their request was not answered despite expressing their willingness to help.

       He claimed they were left in the dark without detailed information.

       Liew called on the state government to entrust 16 Opposition assemblymen to distribute rice in their respective constituencies.

       "If the state government refuses to do so, for the sake of the people of Johor, at least announce information on the rice distribution, including the location and time of distribution as well as the telephone numbers of the coordinators Barisan appointed so the people can receive the 10kg of rice... before May 31, as promised," he added.

       On May 11, Onn Hafiz said the rice aid programme was part of the RM144mil special government incentive known as Bantuan Kasih Bangsa Johor (BKBJ).

       "We have prepared 172,500 units of 10kg bags of rice for the first phase of the programme.

       "Distribution began on April 27 with the coordination of all district officers in the state," he said.

       He added that the people could get in touch with their respective assemblymen and state constituency special coordination committees about the programme.