KUCHING: The Food Supply Chain Sub-Committee reported that as of Thursday, 324,224 households/individuals (91 percent) of the total 349,449 registered with the 12 Divisional Disaster Management Committees (DDMCs) throughout Sarawak have received food assistance from the state government.
Food Supply Chain Sub-Committee deputy chairperson Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said that 63 constituencies had completed their distribution while the food aid was being delivered in the remaining 19 constituencies.
She said that each constituency was given an allocation of RM200,000 channelled to DDMCs, irrespective of whether the areas were under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) or opposition parties.
“There is no politics in this programme,” she said in a statement yesterday, stressing that unity is needed to overcome the Covid-19 crisis.
Opposition constituencies which have received food aid as of Friday are Opar (3,534 household heads/individuals); Padungan (1,975); Pending (2,250); Batu Lintang (4,000); Kota Sentosa (3,175); Engkilili (4,066); Krian (4,000); Bukit Assek (2,069); Dudong (4,200); Bawang Assan (3,643); Pelawan (1,680); Tanjong Batu (1,816); Pujut (1,598); and Ba’kelalan (5,274).
She said the distribution process is still ongoing.
According to Fatimah, who is also Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister, the distribution of food to the target groups was done by land, river, and air transportation.
She said for rural and remote areas such as Telang Usan, Murum, Mulu, Batang Ai, Meluan, Pakan, Engkilili, and Balai Ringin which were not reachable by road, the state government had enlisted helicopter services from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and Hornbill Skyways.
Food aid distribution in Samalaju. 
Food aid distribution in Pelawan. 
Food aid distribution in Batang Ai. 
Food aid distribution in Batu Kawa. 
Food aid distribution in Dudong. 
Food aid distribution in Kota Sentosa.
“A total of 41,859kg of food was distributed by helicopter, benefitting 2,933 households/individuals. It started on April 5 and was completed on April 11. The distribution was carried out with compliance to the movement control order (MCO) directives,” she said.
The objective of the sub-committee is to ensure that those who require assistance and are eligible in all 82 constituencies — households in rural and remote areas, the urban poor, and those without income due to the MCO — are provided with food during the MCO period.
Fatimah said the state food aid to the people of Sarawak was managed centrally by DDMCs, comprising Residents, District Officers, Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKMS), related government agencies, state assemblyperson/MP service centres and relevant non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
“The funding is channelled to and managed by DDMCs and all payments to the relevant food suppliers for the purchase of food will be made by the DDMCs,” she reiterated.
She said that DDMCs, as the main coordinator of this programme, must ensure that the food distribution is carried out smoothly in all divisions and districts.
“All name lists from various sources — government agencies such as the local authorities, JKMS, state assemblyperson/MP service centres, NGOs, and individuals — are submitted to DDMCs for central coordination and verification.
“If there are any deserving individuals who have been missed out unintentionally, do not hesitate to report to the respective DDMC or our Sarawak Welfare Divisional offices (PKMB) for immediate action,” she urged.
JKMS can be contacted at 082-311554.
Contact numbers for DDMCs for each division are Kuching (082-507700), Samarahan (082-673833), Serian (082-872472), Sri Aman (083-320084), Betong (083-472866), Sarikei (084-654396), Mukah (084-872596), Sibu (084-317934), Kapit (013-6689968), Bintulu (086-331742), Miri (085-322737) and Limbang (085-211744).
Contact numbers for PKMBs for each division are Kuching (082-507111), Samarahan (082-671191), Serian (082-872472), Sri Aman (083-321730), Betong (083-471952), Sarikei (084-651005), Mukah (084-873801), Sibu (084-330675), Kapit (084-796152), Bintulu (086-332341), Miri (085-419073) and Limbang (085-211930).
