PUTRAJAYA wants to coordinate the distribution of aid by civil groups to the needy during the movement-control order (MCO), said Rina Harun.

The women and family development minister said her ministry has no intention of stopping these groups from doing their work.

She said the government wants the work to be coordinated by the Welfare Department.

“The directive is to ensure coordination. Movement is going to be tightened when the MCO moves into its next phase.

“The government has never stopped them. We just want it to be coordinated,” she said tonight during the Bicara Naratif programme on RTM.

However, she did not give any other details on how the ministry or the Welfare department will implement its plan.

Rina’s remarks appear to be aimed at pacifying groups which had attacked the decision on social media and through the news media.

Senior minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob had said Putrajaya’s directive in prohibiting civil society and volunteer organisations from directly distributing aid is meant to protect them from Covid-19.

Ismail Sabri said the government issued the order after receiving advice from the Health Ministry.

“We would like to thank them for their contribution. Civil society groups are among the first to help whenever there is a crisis.

“However, in this case, we were advised by the Health Ministry to prohibit volunteers from giving aid directly (to the needy) because we do not want them to get infected.

“I know many are not happy with the decision, but this is for their own safety. They can still send food and supplies to designated centres in each district,” he said in his daily press conference on the MCO last Sunday. – March 31, 2020.