KUCHING: Food aid will be extended to those undergoing home quarantine starting tomorrow (Monday, May 24), said Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
The Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister added in addition to this, the state Social Welfare Department (JKM) also provides food aid to those at quarantine centres, roadblocks stations, Covid-19 Quarantine and Low-Risk Treatment Centres (PKRCs), and lockdownareas.
“Due to this, the workload has increased and that is why we need a system where we can hand out the aid quickly and smoothly whilst adhering to the standard operating procedures (SOPs),” she said at a press conference at the One-Stop Covid-19 Centre today (May 22).
She explained that individuals who received home quarantine orders from the Ministry of Health (MoH) are entitled in receiving the aid as they will be given a white wristband along with a coupon to redeem their food aid.
“Those under home quarantine in Kuching district will be given the aid through a drive-thru method at the Covid-19 One Stop Centre.
“However, for other districts, it may differ as they need the discretion of their own Disaster Divisional Management Committee based on the facilities available in their areas,” she said.
Fatimah added that the rate of the assistance is RM50 per head which will be for 14 days.
“If a person were to extend their quarantine, we will send additional food supplies accordingly,” she said.
She added that the food aid consists of dry food such as rice, sugar, biscuits, instant noodles, coffee and tea, canned food, salt, eggs and cooking oil.
Meanwhile, if the individual or the household has children less than four years of age, elderly or disabled persons under their care, the aid will vary as they will be given according to their needs.
“These groups will be supplied milk formula (for the babies), and disposable diapers or adult diapers if needed,” she explained.
She also said that those who have undergone home quarantine before May 24, are also eligible to receive the food aid as long as they notify the department.
“However, the food aid that they will receive will be slightly different,” she said.
