4,027 applications received for the Bakul Prihatin Negara less than 24 hours after its launch

KUALA LUMPUR: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry received a total of 4,027 applications for the Bakul Prihatin Negara programme, barely 24 hours after the programme was launched.

Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun said of the total, 1,929 applications were received through calls made to Social Welfare Department operations rooms nationwide.

"Another 1,359 and 739 applications were received through Talian Kasih 15999 and WhatsApp respectively.

"We expect the number of applications to increase from time to time, with most of the applicants being among those who lost their jobs and have no fixed source of income to support themselves and their families," she said in a press conference today.

Earlier, Rina handed out food baskets to two recipients – disabled Safrizal Muim, 62, and 47-year-old single mother Low Pui Fun – in Kampung Datuk Keramat and Seksyen 2 Wangsa Maju.

Present was Welfare Department acting director-general Fatimah Zuraidah Salleh.

Rina said the application for food baskets was open to all communities in the country who were affected and in need of food aid.

"After the Bakul Prihatin Negara programme was launched, we immediately started distributing food baskets to applicants.

"We have eased the process for the applicants, without the need for us to review all the applications. The applicants only need to provide complete details. However, we do hope that the people will be responsible.

"Apply only if you really need it," she said, adding that only one application per family is allowed at the moment.

Rina said the distribution of Bakul Prihatin Negara was coordinated by Skuad Prihatin Negara nationwide, including Sabah and Sarawak.

She said the programme was a continuation of the stimulus package by the government such as Perlindungan Ekonomi dan Rakyat Malaysia (Permai) and Pakej Perlindungan Rakyat dan Pemulihan Ekonomi (Pemulih).

"Since the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) last year, the government via the Welfare Department has distributed over 1.5 million food baskets."

Rina said the Bakul Prihatin Negara programme was an initiative by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who wanted to make sure that no Malaysians are without food on the table.

Rina said the ministry welcomes cooperation from companies to contribute to the programme.

She said so far, a total of RM16 million in contributions have been received from various corporate companies.

Meanwhile, Fatimah said applicants can submit their applications for food baskets through various mediums provided, including via the department's operations rooms which are available at 108 districts nationwide.

"They also can call Talian Kasih at 15999, or send WhatsApp at 019-2615999. Applications can be submitted through the ministry and JKM official social media, namely Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram," she said.

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