Food packs distributed to Taman Semarak residents after protest

 

Following a protest by Taman Semarak residents over a food shortage, food packs have been distributed to them by the Tawau Disaster Operations Control Centre (PKOB).

PKOB committee member Joseph Pang said food packs have been distributed since Friday (Oct 30) and the residents were allowed to go to nearby shops to purchase necessities.

"They are allowed to go to the nearby shops and until today we are still distributing the food packs," he told Bernama.

Last Thursday, residents of Taman Semarak held a protest as they appealed to the authorities to have some flexibility in implementing the enhanced movement control order (MCO) in the area from Oct 26 to Nov 8.

A government retiree who lives in the housing area, Dg Sarbanun Abd Latif, 63, said he was thankful that problems over the food packs have been resolved as the residents were in need of food and other necessities.

"Most of the people in Taman Semarak had run out of food by the fourth day of the enhanced MCO so the PKOB’s decision in allowing residents to go to nearby shops was a relief," he said.

For housewife Sarimah Trang, 57, the swift action taken to solve the people's problems showed the local authorities and state government’s concern for them.

"The authorities gave us their cooperation and we received the food aid yesterday," she said.

Former bank officer Ahmad Dullah, 52, said residents could not make earlier preparations to store food and other necessities after they were informed that the enhanced MCO would be implemented as many had not received their salary.

“As such the food aid was very much needed. We are grateful as the aid was a timely gift for us,” he added.

- Bernama