Not distributing food boxes through service centres not a punishment

SUNGAI SIPUT - The decision of Yayasan Perak to no longer distribute food boxes through the State Legislative Assembly Members' service centres does mean it is a punishment to any party.

Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the process of distributing food boxes would revert to its previous arrangement, which involved non-governmental organisations (NGOs), as introduced by Yayasan Bina Upaya.

He said after the change in the state government's administration, the task of distributing food boxes was handed over to Yayasan Perak.

"At that time, the government used the service centres of government representatives to distribute food boxes.

"That was the background. So, it is not the service centre's task to distribute food boxes.

"We placed it there because, at that time, Yayasan Perak lacked manpower.

"When I became Menteri Besar, we continued to distribute not only through government service centres but also through opposition service centres.

"Suddenly, some service centres made their own stickers stating that it was a sincere contribution from their own service centres, which was actually incorrect," he told reporters after the closing ceremony of Perak Agrofest 2023 at Ladang Infoternak Sungai Siput (U), today.

Saarani said the matter was then discussed at the Yayasan Perak Board Directors meeting before an instruction was issued to cease the distribution through State Assembly Members' service centres.

He said this applied to not only the opposition service centres but also to all State Assembly Members', including those from the government.

"Starting this October, food boxes will also be delivered to each State Legislative Assembly, but not through the service centres; instead, it will be done by NGOs appointed by Yayasan Perak.

"The people need not worry; we are not blocking the aid.

"It will still reach the same target, perhaps the same people, but it will be delivered by NGOs instead of the service centres," he said.

Yesterday, it was reported that Selama assemblyman Mohd Akmal Kamarudin from Perikatan Nasional (PN), deemed Yayasan Perak's decision inappropriate due to the actions of a few who put stickers to the food boxes.

He pointed out that this action was also seen as unfair to assemblymen who had never altered the appearance of the food boxes, as the State Assembly Members service centres were places where the public could voice their concerns.