(From third left) Yeoh, Dr Wan Azizah and Zulkifli with a mock cheque for RM100,000, the value of the 1,000 food baskets prepared by MAIWP. With them at the launch of Karnival Kuala Lumpur Madani are (from left) Mohd Nizam, Noridah and Fadlun. — CHAN TAK KONG/The Star
THE Government has pledged to bridge the gap between services and people by improving Malaysians’ access to various government agencies and related information.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said the government’s priority was to ensure that the country’s development could benefit the people, especially those in the Federal Territories (Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan).
“A lot of government aid is available but many people do not get it due to lack of access and guidance,” she noted.
In the example of persons with disabilities (OKU), she encouraged parents of children with special needs to register them for the OKU card.
This, she said, would enable the government to have information in its database so that more aid could be planned for them.
“The government has rolled out various initiatives such as MyGrocer by the Federal Territories Department (JWP), which is now operating in hundreds of locations to offer daily essentials at lower prices.
“It has also been expanded to Labuan.
“Thousands of Residensi Madani and Residensi Wilayah units are also being built to help citizens own homes,” she said at the launch of “Karnival Kuala Lumpur Madani” at Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in conjunction with Federal Territory Day.
More than 20 government agencies and departments such as JWP, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, the armed forces and the Road Transport Department set up service booths at the carnival.
The Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) also presented 1,000 food baskets containing essentials such as rice, cooking oil and canned food, worth RM100,000, to asnaf (hardcore poor Muslim) communities at the carnival.
JWP, meanwhile, prepared 200 food baskets for hardcore poor non-Muslims, according to its media statement.
The ceremony also saw the Social Security Organisation presenting “Skim Lindung Kendiri” and “Skim Lindung Kasih” certificates, while Federal Territories Foundation handed out “Bantuan Awal IPT” aid for children heading to higher education.
Various activities such as Rahmah sales of essential products, GastroSeni WPKL art festival and Kenduri Parlimen Bandar Tun Razak were also held alongside the carnival.
Present at the event were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan, Bandar Tun Razak MP Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Fadlun Mak Ujud, JWP director-general Datuk Seri Noridah Abdul Rahim and MAIWP chief executive Datuk Mohd Nizam Yahya.
Yeoh said JWP would work together with the Welfare Department to upgrade infrastructure in the Federal Territories to make it more OKU-accessible.
“In Brickfields, for example, a lot of engagements have been conducted with the people on this matter,” she said.
