KUCHING: The Sarawak government has assured that households, especially those in the B40 group, affected by the ongoing movement control order (MCO) 3.0 will receive food aid under the Sarawakku Sayang Special Assistance (BKSS) 6.0 package.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said some households had received such aid. He urged those who were still waiting to be patient.
“As of June 7, data from various divisional disaster management committees (DDMCs) shows that 49,811 households (10.5 percent) out of 472,923 from all 12 divisions in Sarawak have received aid,” he told the media after launching the food aid distribution at Darul Ehsan Mosque, Kampung Haji Baki here today.
“The targeted date for completion is June 11. It may go beyond that.”
He added that Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, who was leading the Sarawak Food Supply Chain Committee, had coordinated with all relevant agencies to ensure that the aid reached the people while also complying with MCO standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Sarawak has allocated RM35.5mil under the BKSS 6.0 for the purchase and delivery of food to affected households.
A minimum of RM250,000 has been allocated to each state constituency (DUN) for such purpose as well. For those with more households, they are allocated accordingly.
Meanwhile, Awang Tengah said areas under the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) and eligible individuals undergoing quarantine at home would also receive aid, of which distribution would be done by the Welfare Department (JKM).
“JKM and DDMC are coordinating this to avoid any overlapping in distribution.”
He also urged those eligible who might have been left out to immediately provide information to the respective DDMC.
“We have decided that the allocations are directly given to DDMC and the verification of eligible recipients is to be decided by DDMC together with the service centres, community leaders, relevant agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).”
Awang Tengah added that for areas that required delivery by air, the committee was working with the Fire and Rescue Department and Hornbill Skyways on the use of helicopters.
Among those present today were Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, Deputy State Secretary Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Marzuki, Assistant Transport Minister Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang and his Tasik Biru counterpart Datuk Henry Harry Jinep.
