Bakul Prihatin Negara: 4,027 applications received since opening yesterday

KUALA LUMPUR, July 16  -- A total of 4,027 applications have been received since the Bakul Prihatin Negara programme opened yesterday, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun.

She said of the total, 1,929 were received through the Social Welfare Department's (JKM) operations room, 1,359 through Talian Kasih calls and 739 through the WhatApps messaging service.

"Although originally the Bakul Prihatin Negara aid was scheduled to start on July 19, I took proactive action to come down to deliver it earlier looking at the number of applications received," said Rina when presenting the Bakul Prihatin Negara aid here today.

Rina also said this comprehensive assistance is open to people from all walks of life, whether from the M40, B40 or T20 groups.

"We are aware that many are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and anyone who needs food basket assistance can contact Talian Kasih at 15999, WhatApps 019-2615999, the nearest JKM district office or through the ministry’s official social media," she said.

Rina said the assistance was a continuation of previously announced stimulus packages such as PERMAI (Malaysian Economic and Rakyat's Protection Assistance Package) and PEMULIH (National People's Well-Being and Economic Recovery Package), and about 1.5 million food baskets had been distributed to recipients through JKM since the first movement control (MCO 1.0).

Recipient Safrizal Muin, 62, a lorry driver who has lost his job since MCO 1.0, said he was shocked when he received a call this morning stating that the assistance would be delivered personally by the minister to his house.

"I am shocked and moved by this gift. After losing my job, our family's income depends on the sales of nasi lemak as my wife and four children run a food delivery service,” said wheelchair-bound Safrizal, who has chronic health problems.

A single mother, Low Pui Fun, 47, said she had just applied yesterday and was excited when the aid was delivered in less than 24 hours.

"When I heard the Prime Minister's (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) announcement yesterday, I tried to make an application but did not expect aid to be received so soon. Many types of food are offered. Before this I only ate eggs," said Low, who has been laid off from work for a year.

The delivery of aid was undertaken by the Sukarelawan Skuad Prihatin Negara under the auspices of JKM. Each food basket worth RM50 contains rice, sugar, wheat flour, vermicelli, soy sauce, sardines, biscuits, coffee and salt.

Yesterday, Muhyiddin announced the programme as a proactive response to the situation faced by people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with an allocation of RM21 million under a collaboration between the government and corporate companies.

-- BERNAMA