Press Statement By Michael Kong:
During last year’s MCO, many people were affected by the restrictions imposed by the government. With many unable to work and due to the slow action by the relevant authorities, DAP had to resort to starting its own food aid initiative. DAP particularly YB Chong Chieng Jen and I have voiced our disappointment at how inefficient the authorities were in giving the State government’s food aid. Even though we were only voicing our views on the issue and asking for better implementation, we were both sued in the court of law.
This time round, the Welfare Department has heeded our call and have been more efficient in its distribution of food aid. Within a week of the announcement of the ‘total lockdown’ MCO, we saw the Welfare Department distributing food aid packs to the local communities. This is the sort of efficiency that we had been advocating for in the first place, and not for the food aid to be managed by GPS politicians.
That being said, there are still a lot of people who have yet to receive any food packs from the Welfare Department. We have been receiving requests from many saying how they are not given food packs by their Ketua Kampung for one reason or another. Many others living across Kuching have also contacted us because they have no one else to turn to. We have since given the particulars of these people to the Welfare Department for them to arrange for the distribution of food packs accordingly.
Despite that, we are made to understand that the food packs are still not being given to them. As such, DAP shall once again be arranging a similar food aid drive to assist these people; albeit on a smaller scale since some industries are still allowed to operate subject to the current SOPs. YB Chong Chieng Jen and all other DAP elected representatives have already donated 20% of their allowances as an elected representative to this cause. At the same time, some of our fellow DAP members are also chipping our own money for this cause.
Thus far, we have managed to distribute close to 500 food packs worth approximately RM50 per pack consisting of rice, biscuits, instant noodles, bee hoon, sugar, canned sardine, canned corn, and eggs. With that being said, our financial resources are very limited. Therefore I would like to appeal to the general public for some donations in terms of food items for us to complete more food packs for the people in Kuching. For this initiative, we aim to collect enough for at least 500 food packs.
Those who are interested to donate may drop me a message or alternatively contact any DAP member. It is through adversities like this, we see the good in mankind and we hope that many will step up to contribute a bit to those in dire need.
