Over 200 families at Petaling Jaya Old Town Section 2 - which is currently among areas under an enhanced movement control order (MCO) - have received fresh produce from Bukit Gasing assemblyperson Rajiv Rishyakaran.
Rajiv said although the Social Welfare Department has been distributing food baskets to residents, life might still be difficult for elderly residents.
“Half of the residents are senior citizens and a majority of them are above 60 years old.
“This is an elderly society, so it is quite hard for them to live on only rice, salt and sardine.
“I am glad that I was able to get permission to distribute the fresh produce to supplement their diets.”
Rajiv held a press conference in Jalan Othman this morning and shared that the fresh produce distributed to the 230 families includes vegetables, fish, eggs, bread, kaya (coconut jam) and onions.
He is also preparing for the second round of distribution which includes vegetables and chickens next Tuesday.
Rajiv said that since outsiders are not allowed to enter the enhanced MCO area, Rajiv and several committee members have been packing the food packs since yesterday and sent them to the Social Welfare Department this morning for distribution.
Rajiv told Malaysiakini that the fresh produce costs RM17,000 in total and that the cost is covered by his allocation as an assemblyperson.
He also explained that he is providing for Section 2 residents as it is within his Bukit Gasing constituency, while Section 3 and 4 are under the Taman Megah constituency.
17 elderly residents above 80 years old living alone
According to Rajiv, there are 17 elderly residents who are above 80 years old who are living alone in the area.
“Before the MCO, there was catering food delivered to their houses. But now the restaurant cannot deliver to their houses.
“They are not even able to cook even if we give them fresh produce.”
Rajiv said that meals were delivered to the residents twice a day through the Social Welfare Department.
Rajiv’s office also provides assistance to buy medicine and to deliver essential items.
The Sun Daily reported that there are 1,700 senior citizens living in the area, which make up 60 percent of the residents who are under the enhanced MCO.
On May 10, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the Jalan Othman market area will be placed under the enhanced MCO until May 23.
The enhanced MCO was enforced after the Health Ministry confirmed that there were 26 Covid-19 positive cases in the area, which pose a risk of spreading the virus.
- Mkini
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