PRIME Minister Muhyiddin Yassin  today launched the 5MY programme to address issues of cost of living, sustenance and urban poverty in the federal territories. 

The programme under the Federal Territories Ministry offers five categories of aid – MYJobs@Wilayah, MYGrocer@Wilayah, MYSchoolBus@Wilayah, MYMedic@Wilayah dan MYFood@Wilayah initiatives.

“I am aware of the difficulties faced by the people who are struggling to rebuild and continue their lives. The government is closely following the situation to ensure that assistance can be delivered to target groups,” he said on TV tonight in a Federal Territory Day message.

Muhyiddin said the ministry is implementing a “social safety net” programme in the federal territories to benefit the people.

“I was informed that in 2020 alone, more than 35,000 people and heads of households, as well as 331 low-cost housing in Kuala Lumpur, received direct assistance through the 5MY Programme. This is consistent with directives to fellow cabinet ministers for welfare initiatives to be implemented immediately,” he said.

The prime minister said the MYJobs @ Wilayah programme had provided up to 3,259 jobs in the capital, which was 28 per cent higher than its original target and the recruitment initiative covered various sectors and industries.

As for the MySchoolBus@Wilayah initiative, he said it had provided assistance via 94 school bus operators for 9,704 pupils in 67 low-cost public housing schemes.

“MYMedic@Wilayah is a mobile clinic service that provides free basic health care services to low-income city dwellers in low-cost housing areas in Kuala Lumpur,” Muhyiddin added. 

He said MYGrocer@Wilayah, meanwhile, is an initiative that provides mobile services for wet goods and daily necessities at low-cost housing areas at five to 20 per cent cheaper compared to regular public markets.

“So far, MyGrocer trucks have been mobilised to 30 people’s housing projects (PPR)  in Kuala Lumpur. 

“MYFood@Wilayah is a food basket assistance concept comprising daily necessities for the urban poor and has now benefited a total of 32,000 heads of households in Kuala Lumpur,” he said.

Muhyiddin said the Federal Territories Ministry will check the target recipients to ensure that no one is left out.

The prime minister also announced that 5,750 bags of rice will be donated every week to B40 households   in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan beginning today.

The MyBeras@Wilayah programme is run by the Federal Territories Ministry in collaboration with the Federal Territories Foundation and the Federal Territories Residents Representative Council.

He said in conjunction with the FT Day celebration, various activities have been planned for the next month using the virtual platform, including the River of Life Virtual Run in conjunction with KL Car Free Morning in an effort to build an informative community which practices a healthy lifestyle.

Muhyiddin said the government would also continue its efforts to help alleviate the people’s cost of living and provide a comprehensive social safety net to ensure that the vulnerable and low-income groups are not left behind in the country’s development.

“This is evidenced through the 2021 Budget, which has focused specifically on initiatives to help the people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Perikatan Nasional government remains committed to achieving Malaysia’s vision to be a sustainable, fair, equitable and inclusive country while enhancing the country’s prosperity and ensuring the people are united.”

Federal Territory Day falls on February 1. The federal territories comprise Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan. – Bernama, January 31, 2021.