MP says 750 Covid-19 food aid for Cheras poor undistributed after two weeks

CORONAVIRUS | A total of 750 Covid-19 government sponsored food packs for the lower-income group has been left undistributed at the Bandar Tun Razak Sports Complex for two weeks, according to DAP chairperson Tan Kok Wai.

The Cheras MP said the food aid, including groceries and rice, were intended for distribution to 1,000 B40 families in his constituency.

"The sports complex was chosen as the place to keep 2,000 food packs. A thousand for Cheras and 1,000 for Bandar Tun Razak.

"Bandar Tun Razak's share of the food packs were distributed much earlier, but then the Cheras one, because I'm not a member of the ruling coalition, I was denied my share," Tan told Malaysiakini. 

The Bandar Tun Razak Parliament seat is currently held by Deputy Foreign Minister Kamaruddin Jaafar who was among the former PKR MPs who left the party to join Bersatu and form the Perikatan Nasional government.

Of the 1,000 packs marked for Cheras, Tan said 250 were taken for distribution, but he was unsure of the recipients.

After repeated queries from his office on the distribution of the items, Tan said the Federal Territories Welfare Department had on Saturday requested for a list of 250 aid recipients, and he had complied with the request this morning.

"We have been chasing them the whole day today but so far we received no confirmation whether they will allow us to take delivery of these 250 packs for distribution, or they will distribute it themselves," he said.

Tan, who visited the sports complex this morning, said he was relieved to find the items still in good condition after two weeks.

"But if kept longer maybe there could be rats, worms or other things... we never know," he added.

Tan further lamented the alleged discrimination against Opposition MPs in receiving food aid allocated by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry through the Welfare Department.

Last week, Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh had raised similar concerns as she urged Woman, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Harun, to step up and ensure delivery of food aid hampers.

Yeoh claimed that only 250 packs were delivered to her constituency, while 54 other opposition-held seats had received none or fewer than the promised amount of 1,000 food packs.

Rina, in response, denied Yeoh's claims and insisted that no parties were forgotten or left behind, with more than 260,000 food packs and various other assistance channeled since the movement control order first came into force on March 18. - Mkini