KUCHING, April 10: DAP Bandar Kuching and Stampin Service Centres have in the past four days assisted 2,500 financially-strained families in and around Kuching areas including Stampin, Samarahan and Mambong to have enough sustenance during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period.
Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen said that with concerted efforts of the team, they have managed to send out 2,500 packs of rice; 1,000 chicken; 2,500kg of cabbage; 5,000 packets of biscuits; 1,500kg of potatoes; 3,000 cans of sardine; 2,000 kg of sugar; 2,000 trays of eggs; 500 kg of cooking oil and 200 kg of mixed vegetables and sweet potatoes to the vulnerable families.
“This would not be possible without the help of the 100 strong members, helpers and volunteers, who have in the past four days, untiringly help in loading and unloading the food items, tediously sorting and packing, painful searching for the addresses for delivery of the food items.
“They have helped to put food on the tables of these 2,500 families during this MCO which is affecting a lot of the low-income families, especially those daily-paid workers,” he said in a statement today.
Chong added that the team will continue with the delivery of food for the second batch starting tomorrow (April 11).
He, however, emphasised that this arrangement for food delivery will only be a temporary help provided by DAP service centres while waiting for the Welfare Department “to get their act together and their system to be implemented smoothly so that those deserving ones will not be left out.”
“It will not be a long-term thing as we do not have the financial resources and manpower to continue it for long term. Only the government of the day, with all the tax revenue is able to continue such assistance for the long term,” he said.
Beside sending food to those who have submitted their names, addresses and contacts to DAP service centres, Chong added that their particulars will also be forwarded to the Welfare Department for the latter to continue with the supply of essential food items should the MCO be extended.
“Once again, I would like to thank everyone for their help and thank our donors for the food and fund. We wish everyone good health and win the fight against this Covid-19 pandemic,” he concluded. —DayakDaily
