Pas Perak regrets food box aid 'politicised'

IPOH - Perak Pas is upset with the actions of some state assembly service centres, which affixed party symbols on the Yayasan Perak food boxes, causing the aid to no longer be distributed through representative's service centres.

The party's state commissioner Razman Zakaria said the purpose and objective in distributing these food boxes were clear, as Pas itself was involved in designing the program.

However, he described the blanket punishment for an isolated offence as unfair because only a few individuals misused the food box aid.

"Based on pictures circulating on social media, it is clear that there are assemblyman's service centres that affixed different images on the food boxes distributed by Yayasan Perak, particularly from DAP. Whether this is true or not requires further investigation.

"If Yayasan Perak's claim is accurate, the assemblyman's centres involved should be warned or dealt with, rather than punishing all State Assembly Members, especially those from the opposition," he said in a statement today.

Razman said Perak Pas stance is that the food box aid should continue to be distributed through assemblymen service centres as before because these representative offices are where the people turn to for help.

He added that the areas represented by Pas consist mainly of Malay Muslims who should be assisted if the state government is not neglecting and penalising the majority of Bumiputera voters.

"Pas also sees the distribution of food boxes through non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as a political ploy because there are no clear criteria and it is susceptible to manipulation.

"Distribution through NGOs is more prone to various problems because NGOs do not have a direct responsibility to the people, unlike assemblyman's service centres, which are a reference point for people's issues," he said.

Meanwhile, Razman who is also the state's opposition leader also hoped that Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, would maintain all allocations and aid to go through assemblymen, without succumbing to pressure from any parties in Pakatan Harapan (PH).

On Sept 29, Yayasan Perak clarified that they would no longer distribute food box aids through assemblymen service centres after receiving complaints that certain parties were rewrapping the food aid and affixing stickers with political party logos.

Yayasan Perak's administrative manager Mohamad Hidayat Abd Halim said that starting in October, they would directly distribute the food boxes to those in need with the assistance of NGOs.