IT has been more than a month now since Makcik Kiah got the good news. Her whole family was to receive cash support and savings of RM8,664 over six months, or RM1,444 per month. Wonder whether the family received any of the support.

Over the last couple of weeks, there was talk about the government’s promise to distribute food packs worth RM100 of groceries. Some said they were worth, at most, RM35, and some said RM85. There were also claims, especially from the opposition, of being shortchanged in the number of promised deliveries and also of aid sitting undistributed for two weeks.

The minister responsible responded that the Welfare Department also received contributions from civil society groups, which it also distributed to the needy. For the difference in value, the department said the balance was deducted for packaging and transportation. It seems political instructions from the top caused chaos for the department’s staff who are overstretched.

Each constituency was supposed to receive two types of food aid: 1,000 packs worth RM100 each from the Welfare Department as well as 1,000 packs from the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma). These food aid kits were also not properly listed and caused confusion.

It did not help either when there was a directive by the government that food aid will only be distributed through the Welfare Department to reduce movement and curb the spread of Covid-19. 

With due respect, the Welfare Department may not have the full list of the needy and is there enough manpower to carry out the job? Hence, the reason for packaging and transportation costs. The task could have been parceled out to civil society bodies, who could have done it for free and, surely, would take the necessary precautions to avoid infection. 

Credit is due to the Welfare Department for efficiently organising the packaging and transportation at short notice.

It is also claimed that the aid is distributed through some political branches at the respective parliamentary seats and not to the MPs chosen by the constituents. I hope politics is not being played at this time.

Further delays could lead to possible starvation for some unless they receive help from other sources.

The residents’ association at our housing area was given 12,000 masks from Kuala Lumpur City Hall a few weeks ago to be distributed among residents. Each house was to receive four pieces but the problem is, it came in packs of 10. We managed to distribute all of it in a couple days without costs incurred, while taking the necessary precautions. That is the power of trust from City Hall and sharing of duties and responsibilities.

So, I wonder whether Makcik Kiah is a recipient of food aid, and what she and all the others are doing and thinking now.

What say you… – May 1, 2020.

* Saleh Mohammed reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.