KUALA LUMPUR: The distribution of aid to children who lost either one or both parents to Covid-19 will be expedited by the government through the Malaysian Family Foundation.

       Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the one-off assistance was to help the children from school to university level, Bernama reported.

       “I have told the Chief Secretary to the Government, we will pay directly to the recipients to ease their burden,” he said after handing over the assistance to 42 recipients at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur here yesterday.

       Also present were Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad.

       Among the recipients was Khairil Rizal, 42, who lost his wife to Covid-19 in August and was left to look after their three children aged 13, 10 and six years old.

       “Thank you for this assistance, it just so happens that the school is about to open, all my children are already in school, the cost is high...last year I spent almost RM2,000 for the children’s schooling.

       “Before this, I did an online business with my wife, but since she’s gone, our income has been affected. My wife was a Category Five patient, she had to be intubated and was hospitalised for a month,” he said.

       Ernah Tokol, 32, who lost her husband Mohd Affendi Amir Hamzah, 35, in September was also thankful for the aid.