By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Aug 9: The Sarawak government has spent RM20.4 million to provide food assistance for 1,475 areas placed under Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) as of July 28 this year.
Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said for the year 2020, there was only one area that had been placed under EMCO which was Kampung Haji Baki.
“With 4,196 heads of household (KIR), Kampung Haji Baki was the first village which had underwent EMCO and we had spent RM305,092.70 to provide food assistance to its people.
“But up until July 28 this year, we recorded a total of 1,475 areas placed under EMCO involving 181,233 KIR. This has led the government to spend RM20,420,297.64 in order to supply food assistance to the people in the affected areas,” she said when gracing the Neighbourhood Watch (RT) Cares Centre #KitaBersama programme held at Tabika Perpaduan Ong Tiang Swee in Kuching today.
Fatimah further said Sarawak is considered lucky because the State government has the revenue which enables it to supply food assistance to the people.
She also explained that the value of different batches of food baskets may vary as one food basket could be worth RM50, RM70 or RM80 depending on the items in it.
“However, I hope this would not be an issue because the supply of food assistance came from different sources and the courtesy of various donors.
“Therefore, I can only hope that when the people receive food aid from various sources, they will receive it with gratitude and an open heart,” she added.
During the event, Fatimah mentioned that the RT Cares Centre #KitaBersama programme is an initiative of the Ministry of National Unity (KPN) to ensure the survival and well-being of the local community during the Covid-19 pandemic through the empowerment of RT community responsibilities.
RT Cares Centres are deployed nationwide involving 116 districts and divisions which serve as operations centres for the collection and distribution of food boxes and basic necessities to the B40 group and those with affected income or having a hard time to put food on the table.
“For Sarawak, there are 50 centres in Kuching (8), Betong (8), Mukah (5), Sarikei (4), Bintulu (4), Lawas (4), Samarahan (3), Kapit (3), Sibu (3), Miri (3), Sri Aman (2), Limbang (2), Sri Aman (2) and Serian (1),” she said.
Also present were Sarawak National Unity and Integration Department (JPNIN) director Dirwana Azool and Kuching JPNIN officer Suzana Busalam. — DayakDaily
