PRIME Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob should kick-start several aid programmes to help the poor, as many families do not have enough money for food, Klang MP Charles Santiago said. 

In a statement, the DAP lawmaker recalled how a single mother had come to his office having given up on life as she had no money to feed her four children. 

Suggesting a few possible ideas, Santiago said Ismail should disburse RM250 to poor families, launch a lunch programme in schools and introduce other poverty-targeting policies to help the B40 community.

“She came to my office on Thursday having given up on life. The single mother has no money for food for herself and her four children. This is just one of many cases.

“However shocking this may seem, the fact is we may very well be facing a hunger crisis in the country. 

“In his wisdom, Ismail responded to this alarming situation by announcing RM100 in cash to every family. 

“With the price increase, the single mother won’t be able to feed her family with this money, not even for a week,” said Santiago. 

To this, Santiago said Ismail must act fast before more families go hungry. 

On Wednesday, Ismail announced Putrajaya would give an additional cash assistance of RM100 per household and RM50 for bachelors in the B40 group. 

He said the Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia is to help ease the people’s financial burden.

Santiago also chided Ismail for not coming up with a holistic approach like in Singapore, where there the republic has unveiled a S$1.5 billion (RM4.8 billion) economic package to combat inflation.

“Where is our economic plan?” asked the lawmaker. 

Opposition pact Pakatan Harapan has also called for measures to help Malaysians cope with the rising cost of living, with prices of chicken and cooking oil set to rise from July 1. – June 24, 2022.