KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has opened three additional telephone lines to receive calls for Bakul Prihatin Negara aid.

       Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun said in a statement on Tuesday (July 20) that this was in response to the high number of inquiries received by the Social Welfare Department after the initiative was launched by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on July 15.

       The three additional lines are 03-8323 2176, 03-8323 2177 and 03-8323 2178.

       Besides this, the ministry has also prepared another alternative for applications using Google Forms via 017-729702.

       The new contact channels were operative as of noon on Tuesday.

       “The public can still continue to submit applications through existing channels such as contacting the Social Welfare Department's Operations Room in 108 districts nationwide, Talian Kasih 15999, or WhatsApp to 019-2615999, as well as through the ministry's official social media,” she said.

       Since applications opened on Monday (July 19), a total of 1,355 applications involving 4,467 household members in several states such as Negri Sembilan, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Perlis, Kelantan, Kedah, Perak and Johor have received Bakul Prihatin Negara aid.

       On Monday, a total of 3,487 people registered as Skuad Prihatin Negara volunteers under the supervision of the Social Welfare Dept, which is responsible for the delivery of the aid. – Bernama