OPPOSITION lawmakers say they have not been asked to help with the federal government’s Bakul Prihatin Negara programme and the poor in their constituencies have complained about delays in distribution.

This has caused constituents to ask the lawmakers for help instead, after waiting in vain for the promised federal aid.

Distribution of the food aid baskets could be faster and more efficient if elected representatives from the opposition are involved, they said.

Many among the poor who qualify for the food baskets have applied since the programme was launched in July, but have yet to receive any aid, they said.

The programme, run by the welfare department under the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, is aimed at helping low-income earners cope with the impact of Covid-19 lockdowns.

As late as this month, a social worker in Selangor who has helped two disabled people apply for the food baskets said they have still not received the aid.

The volunteer, who did not want to be named, said he called the programme’s hotline last month to check on their applications. Till now, the food baskets have not appeared nor has he heard back from the welfare department.

“The food basket is worth RM50 and is to be delivered to the applicants’ homes. The RM5 delivery cost will be borne by the welfare department. Until now, they have not received the aid,” he said.

Opposition lawmakers not involved

Sungai Pelek assemblyman Ronnie Liu confirmed that elected representatives who are with the opposition are not kept informed of whom of their constituents are to receive the food baskets.

They are also not roped in to help with the distribution, he said.

“Maybe Bersatu and Barisan Nasional lawmakers receive the food baskets (to distribute), but we don’t know,” said DAP assemblyman.

His party colleague, Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh, also said she had never seen or heard about the food baskets from her constituents.

Balakong assemblyman Wong Siew Ki, also from DAP, said she is still getting a lot of requests for food from vulnerable groups, including migrant workers, who do not get any aid from the welfare department.

She said the ministry is not comprehensive enough in helping all vulnerable groups during the Covid-19 epidemic.

Wong has started her own programme to provide assistance to the underprivileged and to ensure no one is left behind.

Once her service centre receives a request, help will immediately be given, she said.

“You cannot wait too long to provide food aid,” she said.

“The welfare department has failed as it has not provided long-term welfare care to those who need it,” she said, adding that long-term assistance is the job of the department as it is difficult for state representatives to do so.

The federal food basket programme was launched earlier this year at a time when the white flag movement was gaining traction. The movement began on social media asking those in need not to be shy about requesting help by flying a white flag outside their homes. Others who see these flags are encouraged to respond with assistance.

Then prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin launched the national food basket programme, telling Malaysians that they could ask the government for food aid instead of raising white flags.

The baskets, which are distributed by the ministry, are supposed to have items worth RM50, consisting of rice, sugar, flour, noodles, soy sauce, sardines, biscuits, coffee and salt.

Another opposition state representative, Teratai assemblyman Bryan Lai Wai Chong, questioned if people living in opposition constituencies are left out of the federal food basket programme.

“If people are receiving help from the welfare department, they won’t be going to their elected representatives for help,” he said.

Lai coordinates food supplies for people in his constituency, with about 90% donated by the community, businesses and local associations, and distributes them with the help of the police and the local council.

“We haven’t heard anything about the women’s ministry’s food aid programme,” he said.

“But on our own, we have distributed aid to more than 6,000 households.”

Lai expects the number of people needing help to decrease gradually, now that movement restrictions are more relaxed and more economic sectors can operate.

There used to be about 100 people in his constituency requesting help daily, but the number has dropped to fewer than 20 lately, he said.

Klang Municipal Council councillor Lee Fu Haw also observes a similar trend in his area but says there are now more migrant workers asking for help.

As of August 21, 110,174 applicants out of 466,216 have received their food baskets, according to Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Zuki Ali. – September 13, 2021.