CORONAVIRUS | Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob today responded to claims that Orang Asli communities were being deprived of food during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period, assuring that the government was supplying food to them.
"I am pleased to announce that the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) has distributed food packs to the Orang Asli community since the start of the MCO.
"The first phase of aid valued at RM5 million, which was from April 2 to April 10, saw distribution to 49,670 head of households in 853 villages across the country.
"The second phase of aid will begin on April 10 and will see an increased distribution to 55,000 households involving an allocation of RM6 million," he told a press conference in Putrajaya today.
Ismail, who is the senior minister in charge of coordinating the MCO, said the expanded aid will cover those in annexed villages (kampung tambahan) and also low-income families.
"So, it clearly shows that we have not left out the Orang Asli community as claimed by certain quarters," he said.
Ismail, during his daily briefing about the MCO, advised anyone facing food issues to alert the authorities.
"Every day we see reports on social media including Whatsapp that some places did not get food.
"As we know, the government has a structure, from the top-down to the grassroots... The government hopes that if there were issues about food supply, please direct them to the community leaders or the district level.
"If we can do this, the problems can be resolved," he said.
Malaysia had been under a partial lockdown since March 19 to curb the spread of Covid-19.
The MCO was supposed to end on March 31 but was extended until April 14.
Under the MCO, all non-essential businesses and services must close while people are only allowed to leave their homes for approved reasons.
Foreigners are also not allowed into the country while Malaysians cannot leave. - Mkini
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