KOTA KINABALU – A Sabah PKR youth leader is demanding answers from the state government over the RM1,587 price tag for individual food baskets to be distributed in six districts under Covid-19 lockdown.
Information chief Razeef Rakimin told The Vibes that the new Gabungan Rakyat Sabah administration must come clean over its overspending.
“Today, I found out details about the food baskets to be distributed in six districts whose residents are affected by the lockdown – 1,000 in Kunak, Semporna (1,000), Lahad Datu (1,500), Sandakan (1,500), Tawau (1,000) and Kota Kinabalu (300). In total, there are 6,300 food baskets.
“The state government has announced a RM50 million aid, with RM10 million (of the amount) set aside to assist people in four districts under the targeted enhanced movement control order (Temco), namely, Tawau, Lahad Datu, Kunak and Semporna.
“Are the food baskets distributed part of the RM10 million? Are Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan also included in the allocation?”
He said the steep RM1,587.30 cost for each food basket raises concerns about whether the funds are being used to profit cronies.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor initially announced a RM50 million aid for Sabahans affected by the coronavirus pandemic, with RM10 million of the total allocated for food baskets for the four districts under Temco.
He then announced a RM2 million allocation for food baskets for each district where an inter-district travel ban is in place, namely Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Putatan, Papar and Tuaran. – The Vibes, October 11, 2020
