MORE THAN 380,000 households in Sarawak received food aid from the state government during the movement control order (MCO) period, Deputy Chief Minister Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said today.

The aid was fully distributed by April 25 to 380,887 households in rural and remote areas.

However, he acknowledged that some households could have been overlooked.

“They should contact their respective divisional disaster management committee or the state welfare divisional offices for assistance,” said Awang Tengah, who chairs the food supply chain sub-committee of the state Disaster Management Committee.

The assistance for Sarawak’s 82 state constituencies was mainly funded by an allocation of RM16.4 million from the Sarawakku Sayang Food Aid programme.

Each constituency was allocated RM200,000.

Meanwhile, the federal government has set aside RM3.1 million under Bantuan Khas kepada Ketua Keluarga B40 programme for the benefit of 40,000 households.

Awang Tengah said to date, 39,088, or 98% of the households have received the food aid and that distribution is ongoing to the remaining 912 households.

The National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) has also provided RM582,500 under the Covid-19 special assistance fund for11,650 recipients.

Awang Tengah said the aid has been fully distributed.

He said the private sector, groups and “kind individuals” have also donated food to those in need.

In the state’s remote areas like Telang Usan, Murum, Mulu, Batang Ai, Meluan, Pakan, Engkilili and Balai Ringin, the food was airlifted by helicopters from the air force, Fire and Rescue Department and Hornbill Skyways.

Awang Tengah assured Sarawakians who will soon be celebrating Hari Raya and the Gawai Dayak of enough supply of essential food items such as chicken eggs, chicken, beef, cooking oil, flour, sugar and rice for the back-to back celebrations.

He said the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry has given its assurance that the state’s stockpile of food is sufficient for three months. – May 8, 2020.