KUCHING: The Sarawak government is making all efforts to ensure that food supply is enough and reaches particularly the remote rural areas.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said he understands some of the remote areas have their food supply disrupted during the movement control order (MCO), and the state government is getting the military to assist in transporting the food supply.
He said to engage the military is to ensure there is no further disruption of food supply because some folks need to travel far or even by river to go to the main cities, which is difficult during the MCO period.
“What is important now is the basic supply chain is available for the extended 14 days. And what is important to us is that the supply of food reaches the remotes areas,” he said in a press conference after visiting Ta Kiong supermarket at tHE Spring shopping mall, yesterday.
He said the state government does not look at Kuching area alone, but also throughout the state, especially longhouses and villages that are in the remote areas.
“This is also why the state sets up the food chain supply sub-committee and it is headed by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ai Hasan, to ensure distribution of food reaches the rural areas,” he said.
In the meantime, he said the state government is collecting data on food stock in the state to ensure basic commodities such rice, sugar, salt, flour, vegetables, including cooking oil, are sufficient during the extended MCO.
To a question on the state’s loss during the MCO period, the chief minister said: “What is important is we look into those who have lost their jobs. They need our help.”
