PUTRAJAYA will come up with a new policy to safeguard vulnerable groups, especially women and the elderly, following the recent tragedy of two senior citizens dying while queuing up for food coupons, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said today.

“We take serious note of the incident that happened recently and the government is preparing a policy that will safeguard not only women but everyone, regardless of their stature,” said Dr Wan Azizah, who is also women, family and community development minister.

She added that while many civil society groups are eager to help the underprivileged, safety measures must come first.

“We must find a way to ensure this sort of noble practice continues, but we need to take into account that these people are old.

“We will look at how to tighten their methods and find the means to help and reach out to them,” she said after attending the Chinese New Year celebration at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall today.

Last week, The Star had reported that two elderly women died when a large crowd rushed to get free food coupons at the ICC Pudu indoor market.

The organisers had prepared 200 coupons but more than 1,000 people turned up.

The two deceased women were Ah Poh, 85, and Law Ion Nang, 78. – February 5, 2019.