CORONAVIRUS | Tan Kok Wai became outraged when he discovered that more than 700 government-sponsored Covid-19 food packs are still sitting in the Bandar Tun Razak Sports Complex in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.
This is despite the Cheras MP expressing concern that the food packs were left undistributed four days ago.
“Oh, God! The aid is still here,” Tan exclaimed when he visited the sports complex yesterday evening.
Malaysiakini calculated that there were a total of 750 food packs and 750 packets of 10kg rice.
The food packs consisted of two packets of wheat flour, three packets of cooking oil, three packets of sugar, one packet of bee hoon (rice noodles), one packet of salt, three cans of sardine, three cans of condensed milk, one bottle of soy sauce and chilli sauce each, three packets of biscuits, a packet of dried chilli, one packet of coffee powder and one packet of tea.
According to a check based on Tesco supermarket's website, each food pack is worth around RM110.
Tan told Malaysiakini that he has been receiving requests for aid from his constituents but the authorities have not given him the green light to distribute the government-sponsored food packs.
The DAP national chairperson then showed several emails he received from the public appealing for food items.
Tan said he previously spent his own allocation as well as donations to purchase food items for those in need but this was not sufficient.
The lawmaker also complained of double standards noting how Bandar Tun Razak MP Kamaruddin Jaffar, who is a member of the ruling coalition, had obtained approval from the Social Welfare Department (JKM) to distribute food packs.
“We are in the opposition now. So no approval letter is given to us. Without the approval letter, we cannot collect or distribute aid,” he said, adding that his assistant was facing difficulties in contacting JKM officers on this matter.
Tan also refuted Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Harun's (photo) claim that nobody is sidelined in terms of aid distribution during the movement control order (MCO) period.
“She is lying. Why is it that those in Perikatan Nasional (PN) constituencies receive food packs but not those in Pakatan Harapan's constituencies? So where is the problem? Rina must give us a proper and reasonable explanation,” he added.
“People are crying for help. Why does the government discriminate and suppress the opposition? Is there any difference between those in my constituency and their constituencies?” he asked.
Malaysiakini had contacted the ministry for a response.
Last Friday, Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh claimed that at least 54 opposition parliamentary constituencies had yet to receive the food aid allocation.
The former women, family and community development deputy minister claimed that her Segambut constituency received just 250 food packs.
It was reported that the only opposition-held constituency to receive the full quota of 1,000 food packs was Langkawi, which is represented by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Whereas Kangar, under PKR's Noor Amin Ahmad, and Kubang Pasu, held by Amiruddin Hamzah of Bersatu, had received 900 hampers each.
Amiruddin is aligned to Mahathir, who is the Bersatu chairperson. - Mkini
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