By Fitri Hazim Hazam
SABAK BERNAM, Nov 5 — Yayasan Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated) has doubled the allocation for its food basket programme this year to RM2 million.
Its head Ahmad Azri Zainal Nor said this is to ensure more underprivileged individuals, including from the lower income group and senior citizens, benefit from the initiative.
“Yayasan MBI initially allocated a special fund of RM1 million for food basket contributions, but this amount was increased to RM2 million this year.
“This programme has been extremely popular and has generated tremendous demand throughout the state, particularly from village heads, council members and assemblymen in each district,” he said.
He was met after a ceremony to present cash aid to disaster victims at the Sungai Air Tawar state assembly service centre here today.
Azri said, to date, the food basket programme has benefited some 30,000 people.
“Places like Sabak Bernam and other rural districts were among areas with the highest number of recipients.”
Each food basket contains 13 types of basic necessities, including rice, oil, sugar and cooking spices, which can sustain supplies for up to three weeks.
At today’s event, seven families living in Sungai Air Tawar, whose homes were affected by a flood in July, received assistance from Yayasan MBI.
Azri said each family affected by the storm received RM1,000 in cash aid, while flood victims received RM500.
A further RM1,000 in aid was provided to one tertiary education student to help ease his burden.
The contributions were made following requests from the Sungai Air Tawar state assembly service centre, through its representative, Datuk Rizam Ismail.
“As a show of our concern, Yayasan MBI approved all cash aid applications to assist those in need,” he said.
