GEORGE TOWN: The RM300, 000 allocation for all MPs to distribute food aid for the rakyat will bring relief to impacted families, says Chief Minister and state DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow.

       He said his service centre was ready to implement the programme as soon as possible.

       “We will organise the distribution of food baskets to the needy in the Tanjong constituency, ” said Chow, who is Tanjung MP.

       Jelutong MP RSN Rayer said the aid package was timely as the people needed help to cushion the impact of the pandemic.

       “The government, however, should cut the red tape and ensure that funds reach all MPs within a week, ” he said.

       “The announcement by the Prime Minister was good and we expect a swift implementation of the funds.”

       Balik Pulau MP Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik thanked the government for the allocation but added that it was long overdue.

       “It will be of great help now as we are also in the midst of raising funds to help the needy as most of our allocations had been used up, ” he said, adding that the aid should not be confined to only food.

       “Different people need different help. There are those who need money to pay for utilities bills, medicine and education for their children, ” he said.

       In Johor Baru, Tebrau MP Steven Choong said getting MPs to distribute the food basket was meaningful as they were the ones on the ground and knew the people who needed help.

       “Each day I get between 30 and 40 WhatsApp messages requesting for aid. Last year when the 1, 000 food baskets were distributed via the welfare department, there were many complaints about its implementation.

       “It is good that this time the Prime Minister had asked MPs to spearhead it personally, ” he said, adding that in the last two weeks alone, he distributed about 300 food baskets each worth RM100 of essential items around his constituency.

       “I am working with the councillors, village heads and religious leaders to get the aid out to as many people as possible, ” he said.

       In Petaling Jaya, Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh said based on her experience the RM300, 000 would be able to help 6, 000 families if RM50 was allocated for each basket and 3, 000 families if RM100 was allocated.

       “It’s hardly enough aid because it is likely to be one-off assistance, ” she said.

       “How long can a bag of rice and one tray of eggs last?”

       In Kuching, a Sarawak MP said the RM300, 000 allocation for all MPs was a welcome bipartisan move to ensure assistance for the needy.

       Sibuti MP Lukanisman Awang Sauni said the equitable distribution of the food basket allocation would enable the MPs to mobilise their staff and volunteers to identify marginalised groups and those in need of assistance.

       “In Sarawak, this allocation will complement the state’s food basket assistance under the Sarawakku Sayang package which was also distributed to all 82 state constituencies, ” he said.

       The PBB MP also supported the extension of the Covid-19 vaccination to adolescents aged 12 to 17 and called for vaccination centres to be set up in schools.

       “This will enable schools to reopen safely, ” he said.

       In Ipoh, Tambun MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu said the allocation was great news to the people.

       “We will use it to help small traders and those affected badly, such as workers who are paid on a daily basis.

       “We also plan to set up a bigger team to help people to register for the immunisation programme including ferrying those without transportation to the vaccination centre, ” he said, adding that his service centre would increase more food box distributions in his constituency.