PETALING JAYA: Only the Welfare Department (JKM) is allowed to distribute aid to the public. The decision was made to help mitigate the risk of transmission of Covid-19, Senior Minister (Defence) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (pix) told a press conference today.
Ismail has instead instructed all non-government organisations (NGOs) to channel their aid to JKM.
He said that allowing NGOs to continue their with their work would contradict the main purpose of the movement control order (MCO) pointing out that there would be human interaction and physical contact.
“JKM already has the name list of those who are in need of aid and they will deliver necessities to this group of people,“ he said.
“But if NGOs want to contribute, they may hand over provisions to JKM and JKM will deliver these to the target group accordingly,“ he said, adding that it is better to leave distribution to JKM.
Many NGOs were dissatisfied with the move that refrains them from delivering essential goods to the needy. However, Ismail reiterated that the decision was made to protect NGO volunteers from contracting the virus and to help flatten the curve.
