KIDR card to help Orang Asli buy much-needed necessities

PARIT, July 29 -- “This card is like a lifeline for us,” Noor Samshila Bah Prad, an Orang Asli  from Kampung Tumboh Hangat, near here, said.

Noor Samshila, 48, from the Semai tribe is among the 19 Orang Asli who received the cashless card worth RM250 under the Kasih Ibu Darul Ridzuan (KIDR) programme that can be used to purchase necessities and pay for health treatments at private clinics.

Noor Samshila, a single mother of five, who did odd jobs in her village, said she had to stop working as her health had deteriorated and she had to help take care of her two grandchildren, aged four and five.

“I live with my grandchildren. I can’t wait to use this card because we are free to choose whatever food we want and RM250 is really adequate.”

She said this to reporters at the food basket presentation programme at her village, officiated by Perak Youth, Sports, Communications and Multimedia Committee chairman, Khairul Shahril Mohamed here today.

The KIDR programme, launched by Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Saarani Mohamad yesterday, is a collaboration between the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) and the state government to help the needy affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A total of 5,097 women and 20,000 dependents from the poor and hardcore poor groups will receive the aid and the cards will be activated on Aug 1.

Khairul Shahril, who is Bota assemblyman, said the programme today was for 290 households from three villages, namely, Kampung Suak Padi, Kampung Temboh Hangat and Kampung Gedung Batu, and each would receive a food basket donated by the Orang Asli Development Department, while 17 of them qualified for the KIDR card.

“We have also identified local stores that can be a panel for the KIDR card programme to ensure the card can be used without them needing to travel too far.

“We will try our best to ensure that the stores fulfil the conditions or are in the categories set by the NCIA,” he said.

-- BERNAMA