THE Government should stop playing partisan politics and get Opposition MPs involved in delivering rice and food baskets to underserved Kuala Lumpur (KL) residents.
“While the Government keeps telling everyone to work together during this unprecedented time, the situation on the ground is very different and politically charged,” PKR MP Fahmi Fadzil told FocusM.
Recently, nine KL based Pakatan Harapan MPs sent a statement, claiming they have received complaints from the B40 group that they were clueless on how to get the 5,750 free rice packs announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
They also said that the Food Basket Programme worth RM50 mil, managed by the Department of Social Welfare (JKM), does not seem to be running smoothly as many are oblivious on how to get them, three months after the initiative was launched.
Elaborating on the matter, Fahmi said that not only the people are clueless on how to get the aid, many Opposition MPs are also in the dark about it.
“Last year, JKM was coordinating all the aid distribution but this time around, we’re not entirely sure. It’s hard for us also because we want to ensure there is no duplication when the aid is distributed,” he added.
Information gap not helping
Offering solution, Fahmi urged the Government to get elected representatives’ cooperation on the aid distribution, irrespective of political affiliation.
“We’re elected by the people so the Government should not deny us. Share information with us so that we can also help out.
“It also helps in terms of holding agencies accountable in ensuring smooth delivery of the programme. Right now, we have no information on who is doing what,” said the Lembah Pantai lawmaker.
Echoing Fahmi’s sentiments, DAP MP Fong Kui Lun said the Government should rope in cooperation from activists and local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as well if they wanted to streamline and smoothen the food aid delivery to the B40 group in KL.
“Information gap is a huge problem. Keep us in the loop so that we can at least tell our constituents where and how to get the rice packets and food baskets,” the Bukit Bintang MP stated. – March 2, 2021.
