By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, June 4: The RM35.5 million fund for the food aid programme under Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang (BKSS 6.0) will be channeled to Divisional Disaster Management Committees (DDMCs) for implementation.
The food aid programme was one of the State government’s initiative to ease the burden of households amidst the implementation of Movement Control Order (MCO) statewide since May 29 until June 14.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan who is also the State Food Supply Chain Committee chairman, said the decision to empower the DDMCs was made during the committee’s virtual meeting earlier today.
“The DDMC will compile the recipients of this food aid, who will be mainly from the B40 group.
“They (DDMC) will work together with Pusat Khidmat (service centres), community leaders, together with relevant agencies such as State Social Welfare Department (JKM), local councils and non-governmental organisations (NGOs),” he said after chairing the meeting.
Tengah also said the DDMC will manage the distribution of the food aid with the support of Pusat Khidmat, relevant government agencies such as JKMS, Public Works Department (PWD), Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), the police, community leaders and village chiefs (KMKK) and NGOs.
“The process of the distribution will comply strictly with the current standard operating procedures (SOPs).
“Food items will be decided by DDMC according to the allocation given to each constituency. The DDMC will also handle the procurement of the food items,” he pointed out.
On May 28, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has announced the BKSS 6.0 to cushion the impact of MCO to the people.
Under this recent package, RM20.5 million is allocated for food aid. Additionally, RM5 million will be allocated for transportation costs.
Due to the increase in the number of recipients, Abang Johari has recently agreed to provide an additional RM15 million for the food aid allocation, making it a total of RM35.5 million. — DayakDaily
