CORONAVIRUS | At a time when frontliners are already stretched in dealing with the Covid-19 crisis, concerns have been raised over Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's advice for NGOs to channel their aid through the state welfare offices.
Citing the situation in Penang, Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim (above) said the government should not add to the burden shouldered by frontliners including welfare officers, Rela and the Civil Defence Force.
"Today the minister said don't go out to distribute food.
"He asked the NGOs to distribute supplies to the Social Welfare Department, and then Rela members and the Civil Defence Force will be in charge of distribution," said the former deputy youth and sports minister.
"I'm not just saying this, but as director of Penang 'Lawan Covid-19', I see how our frontliners are exhausted. And now you're asking them to arrange the logistics of collecting, stock-taking and distribution of supplies?" he asked.
Sim said this was despite Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow's statement yesterday that the state government was restructuring its current system to distribute food and essential groceries collected by many local NGOs.
Chow, who thanked the groups for their contributions, said the distribution currently done by local elected representatives needed to be restructured to minimise movement, prevent undue exposure to Covid-19 infection and to avoid wastage.
Earlier today, Ismail similarly said the government appreciated efforts by NGOs in distributing food to the needy during the movement control order.
At the same time, he advised the groups to limit their movement so as not to risk spreading Covid-19.
As such, Ismail said the government would be setting-up food distribution centres at state social welfare department offices to allow NGOs to deliver food there instead of going house-to-house.
His remarks had raised concerns from parties who took it as a ban on NGOs from carrying out their activities.
Aside from Sim, Kampung Tunku assemblyperson Lim Yi Wei also expressed fear that there would be vulnerable groups left out with the reduced role of NGOs in the distribution process.
"I fear this instruction is highly inefficient and will harm the many vulnerable communities whose access to food has been severely compromised.
"These include senior citizens with limited mobility, people with disabilities (OKUs), B40 families, the homeless and the refugee communities among others," she said.
"I am also concerned that the federal government may not have a complete list of vulnerable communities that need urgent assistance and be able to rechannel that assistance instantly.
"The fact is that certain communities remain underserved shows that they have existed long outside the government's radar," she added.
Taking to Twitter, DAP Youth vice-chief Muhammad Shakir Ameer Mohideen echoed Sim's concerns that frontliners are already being stretched thin with their own duties on top of being asked to assist in aid distribution.
"Yes, safety comes first but they (the government) should trust the NGOs that there'll be best practices when it comes to safety (measures) [...]," he said.
When contacted, an aide to Ismail reiterated that NGOs were not prohibited from contributing their services.
"Datuk Seri (Ismail) had expressed gratefulness over the NGOs role to assist frontliners at this critical time. He, however, advised them to minimise their movement and adhere to the movement control order," the aide told Malaysiakini.
Taking into consideration the risks faced by NGOs, the aide said Ismail had issued the advice for donations to be channelled through the nearest state Social Welfare Department office.
Meanwhile, the Social Welfare Department in a statement said that as the appointed agency to coordinate the distribution process, NGOs should deliver their donations to the nearest state welfare department or district welfare office.
"To ease the process of managing donations, the Women and Family Development Ministry will mobilise its officers from agencies under its purview."
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had called upon charity organisations and zakat collection centres around the country to "rise up" and help Malaysians in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Under the MCO, non-essential businesses and services were ordered closed and people discouraged from leaving their homes except for pressing reasons such as to restock on food supplies.
This has severely impacted the B40 community as they are unable to earn any income and have little to no savings.
Some - including vulnerable groups such as the homeless - have been forced to depend on food supplied by welfare organisations.
The MCO came into effect on March 18 and was to end on March 31 but has been extended to April 14. - Mkini
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