Minister grilled over political interference in food aid distribution
Rina Harun was grilled by opposition lawmakers over the alleged political interference into the distribution of food baskets to the poor at the opposition constituencies during the early stage of the movement control order (MCO).
This happened when the women, family and community development minister told the Dewan Rakyat that a total of 864,000 food baskets were given to the family heads...
Rina Harun was grilled by opposition lawmakers over alleged political interference in the distribution of food baskets to the poor in opposition constituencies during the early stage of the movement control order (MCO).
This happened when the women, family and community development minister told the Dewan Rakyat that a total of 864,000 food baskets were given out to family heads.
Taking the lead was Nurul Izzah Anwar (Harapan-Permatang Pauh) who said Deputy Higher Education Minister Mansor Othman had written a letter to halt the effort taken by the opposition lawmakers who had coordinated with welfare officials to distribute food baskets to the poor.
In April, several opposition MPs cried foul after Mansor, in the letter bearing his ministry's letterhead, directed the Penang Welfare Department to distribute the food baskets to selected coordinators instead.
Similar issues were faced by other opposition MPs who originally provided lists of poor families who needed food baskets.
"What is the plan to ensure that the decision-making stays within the ministry and that there is no political interference that will disrupt the distribution of food baskets?" asked Nurul.
Rina replied by saying the food baskets programme was meant to be distributed on a constituency basis instead of via MPs.
"There was a lot of confusion that the food baskets were to be given to MPs when they were actually supposed to be coordinated by the Welfare Office on the ground, the NGOs and also local leaders," explained Rina.
She pointed out that all 108 welfare offices had to deal with food basket distribution at the 222 parliamentary constituencies.
She said it was more important for the people to finally receive the assistance than focussing on who was distributing the food baskets.
Teo Nie Ching (Harapan-Kulai) said the cooperation between the MPs and the welfare officials was good at the beginning of the distribution of food aid.
"But things came to a halt at Permatang Pauh, Kulai and Cheras. The former Perak menteri besar also complained about it," she added.
"The food baskets arrived at the hall and they said they would be distributed as soon as Perikatan Nasional appoints its coordinators.
"This had caused much delay. If you say it is more important for the people to receive the aid, why not straight away send out the food? If you say people are important, please explain," she said.
'Minister's instructions'
Rina, however, did not address the part about PN coordinators being given the role to distribute the food baskets.
She instead said the government did not have enough food for everyone who needed it so the opposition MPs could play a role in getting more food.
"I am sure some (households) have been overlooked. The (opposition) representatives, however, can help out," she said.
Hannah Yeoh (Harapan-Segambut) then pointed out that she saw images uploaded onto social media showing local MCA and Bersatu representatives distributing food baskets to the people.
"I know that the minister, in her answer, would not admit to the existence of political coordinators but I would like to have a list of the people who handed out these food baskets," said Yeoh.
Rina, however, answered that the ministry received applications for food aid via the "Talian Kasih" helpline which was set up for victims of domestic abuse after the MCO started on March 18.
"As I said, 96 percent of the calls received were related to food baskets," she said.
Yeoh then stood up and said: "We know this is the official answer of the minister. But on the ground, a welfare officer received instructions from the Welfare Department's headquarters to follow the minister's instructions (when it came to food baskets distribution).
"We then cannot blame the welfare officer," she said.
Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin then demanded for Rina to answer if she had issued such instructions.
Rina, however, did not offer a direct answer.
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