By Norrasyidah Arshad
SERI KEMBANGAN, Oct 12 — The Selangor government is reviewing the needs and making appropriate plans for children who have lost their parents to Covid-19.
Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said the initiative is one of the state’s post-Covid-19 rehabilitation efforts to help those affected by the pandemic.
He said the number of affected children is being determined, and they would also identify the critical needs that should be addressed.
“They do not only need food baskets. We may provide legal assistance, or liaise with certain agencies such as the Social Security Organisation (Socso) so that their rights are safeguarded.
“Otherwise they will fall under the radar, especially if the rest of their family lives far away. We will ensure that their lives are guaranteed, including custody rights and estate matters, because they are still young and do not know how to manage these,” Amirudin said, following a visit to five siblings in Seri Kembangan yesterday night, whose parents recently died of Covid-19.
Muhammad Hadhrami (11-years-old), Husna Humaira (nine), Muhammad Harraz (eight), Muhammad Hawwas (six) and Hannan Humaira (three) lost their father Mohd Nasir Tahal, 46, on August 11.
Their mother Ida Haryanie Abdul Razak, 38, passed away on Thursday after being intubated for 64 days at the Putrajaya Hospital.
They are now under the care of their grandparents Abdul Hamid Basirun, 67, and Kintan Sulaiman, 63.
During the visit, Amirudin also handed over 99 Speedmart shopping vouchers from Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated) or MBI to the siblings.
Present during the visits were state executive councillor for public health Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud and MBI’s Corporate Social Responsibility head Ahmad Azri Zainal Nor.
Azri said MBI will donate five tablets along with free internet data for a year (under the Selangor Internet Data initiative) for the siblings to ease their home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) session.
