KUALA LUMPUR: Apart from carrying out enforcement duties, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) have been handing out food assistance to families affected by the Covid-19 pandemic through Ops Bantu.
It is estimated that 48,800 food baskets with basic necessities such as rice, cooking oil, and sugar have been distributed by the 156 police district headquarters (IPD) nationwide.
Bukit Aman Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department (JPJKK) deputy director, Datuk Saiful Azly Kamaruddin, said the initiative would benefit 300 families at each IPD.
“Under first phase, a total of 10 food baskets were distributed today while another 10 would be handed over today to the needy families.
“For the next phase, the food baskets will be distributed after obtaining the green light from the Home Ministry and Women, Family and Community Development Ministry,” he told Bernama today.
Saiful Azly said the food baskets assistance would go on until the Covid-19 pandemic ends and would not stop when all the baskets have been given out.
Ops Bantu, which began on Wednesday, is led by 157 district police chiefs and involves the Aman Wanita (Amanita) squad under the PDRM and the People’s Volunteer Corps (RELA) at the district level who are assigned to deliver the immediate assistance.
Meanwhile, the Kuala Lumpur Contingent Police Headquarters also distributed food basket supplies to 120 families in the city, including Putrajaya. Another 60 baskets have been handed over today.
Kuala Lumpur JPJKK chief SAC Datuk Azman Ayob said among the areas that received the assistance were Danau Kota Flats, Kampung Chubadak Tambahan, Sri Johor Flats, Putra Ria and Putra Harmoni Apartments.
Meanwhile, two single mothers, a kuih seller Suriana Zakaria, 44, who has eight children, aged between four and 20, and Rohaya Haslina Abdullah, 49, who lost her income as a babysitter, were among the aid recipients in Kelantan.
Kelantan Deputy Police Chief SAC Abdullah Muhammad Piah said Kelantan Contingent Police Headquarters was supplied with 3,000 food baskets by the Home Ministry. – Bernama
