Uproar over ‘rich’ people getting food aid rations

Help for the ‘needy’: This photo of volunteers carrying food aid packs approaching a house in Tawau district created a stir among netizens.

KOTA KINABALU: A controversy is raging on social media over the distribution of food rations to the poor as pictures have emerged of well-to-do people also getting the aid. Sri Tanjung assemblyman Datuk Jimmy Wong said their intention to help was good and the viral photos were taken during the distribution of rations for those living in terrace houses.

He said that under his standard operating procedure, help was given to some 1,400 households in villages within the constituency in Tawau.

“In my second phase, we decided to help those living in terrace houses whom you could consider as the lower income group, ” he said, explaining that the pictures centred on a renovated corner terrace house within a housing estate.

Before starting out, his team had asked people who did not need aid to put notices on their gates, he said.

“From experience, my volunteers were scolded for asking details of people’s income.

“People who seemed to be well-to-do also wanted the rations. We decided to just provide without question, ” he said, adding that the target at terrace houses was the lower middle-income group.

He said there were over 5,000 people living in terrace houses in the distribution area, some with luxury vehicles parked in the compounds.

“We tell them if they don’t need it, don’t take or donate it back to us or give to someone who might need it, ” he said, adding that they did

not want to raise too many questions as the current aid was done on an emergency basis.

“The people in the kampung were very thankful for our assistance. Our special volunteer squads just want to help the people, but sometimes, they got scolded when they questioned the recipients about their eligibility, ” said Wong, who is a state assistant minister.

Wong said in the third phase, they would seek out those living in shophouses, school bus and taxi drivers as well as frontline medical staff.

“We will continue to help on humanitarian grounds, ” he said, adding that the social media controversy could also be politically motivated. - Star