‘Complaint window’ to help urban poor who miss out on aid

 

A survey had shown that some poor families in Kuala Lumpur had missed out on government aid, a minister said.

PETALING JAYA: Poor people in urban areas are to be provided a “complaint window” to ensure they do not miss out on government aid.

Anti-inflation task force chairman Annuar Musa said the “complaint window” initiative would give members of the urban poor who are affected by inflation to channel their information to the authorities.

The initiative would begin in the Federal Territories and the details would be announced by the Federal Territories ministry, Bernama reported.

“The urban poor is the group most affected by the rising cost of living and price increases,” he said after a task force meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

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“Those who are eligible but have not received any assistance for whatever reasons can lodge their complaints (through the complaint window). It is also for anyone with information on any eligible person who was not listed in the existing aid system to channel the information,” he said.

Annuar said the implementation of the initiative would be monitored by the anti-inflation task force.

He said a recent survey had revealed that there were urban poor families in Kuala Lumpur who had been left behind in receiving government assistance.

Annuar also spoke about cooking oil prices and chicken supply.

He said the majority of cooking oil traders were complying with the maximum price set for palm cooking oil in bottles, with 17% of retailers selling it below the maximum price, as low as RM28.90 compared to the maximum price of RM34.70.

Last week, the government announced that the maximum price for palm cooking oil in bottles was to be set on a monthly basis based on the price of one tonne of crude palm oil announced by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board.

The price of palm cooking oil in 5kg bottles was set at RM34.70 each starting today.

Annuar said the government has yet to make a decision to change any regulations regarding chicken export restrictions which began on June 1.

He said there had been those who sought permission to export chicken abroad, based on a purported surplus of chicken supplies.

However, government controls on supply could not be carried out “in a ‘flip-flop’ fashion”, he said. “We need time to ensure that the domestic supply of chicken and other goods is under control.” - FMT