Gov't mulls 'cradle to grave' policy for vulnerable groups
The government is considering introducing a social welfare policy for vulnerable groups including senior citizens following the recent tragedy where two senior citizens died during a rush for free food vouchers.
The two female senior citizens - Law Ion Nang, 78, and Ah Poh, 85, - collapsed as the crowd they were in rushed to get the limited coupons distributed by a non-governmental organisation at the Pudu indoor wet market on Jan 28.
The government is considering introducing a social welfare policy for vulnerable groups including senior citizens following the recent tragedy where two senior citizens died during a rush for free food vouchers.
The two female senior citizens - Law Ion Nang, 78, and Ah Poh, 85, - collapsed as the crowd they were in rushed to get the limited coupons distributed by a non-governmental organisation at the Pudu indoor wet market on Jan 28.
Commenting on the tragedy, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Sulaiman said the government was aware that charitable groups wanted to do good.
"The ministry understands a lot of these NGOs want to do good but there must be safety measures in place for the recipients who belong to vulnerable groups," she said when met at the KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall's Chinese New Year open house today.
Said the government would look at measures to ensure that similar incident did not recur.
Wan Azizah said the government was looking at a "cradle to grave” type policy to take care of these target groups but did not elaborate further.
"We will look at measures and means to help them (the elderly) and reach out to them. When a tragedy like this happens, you have to take into account these things (safety)," she said.
In the incident at ICC Pudu Complex, police investigations revealed that the organiser had allocated 200 free food coupons to be distributed to senior citizens.
However, around 1,000 people turned up. Both victims were believed to have died due to breathing difficulties when caught up in the crowd.
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