PETALING JAYA: Those giving out food aid now conduct background checks to ensure they are genuine cases.
Social activist Kuan Chee Heng, or fondly known as Uncle Kentang, has encountered repeat offenders who are not in need of genuine help.
Fortunately, these are isolated cases.
“We ban them from coming back, and we also ban their phone numbers,” he said when contacted.
Based on Uncle Kentang’s experience, usually 80% of people are in need of help and 20% are scammers.
“We ignore the 20% and focus on the big picture,” he said.
To prevent such incidents from happening, background checks are done such as looking at a recipient’s household water and electricity bills.
PETALING JAYA: Many non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have urged the government to simplify the process of delivering aid to the needy during the lockdown period, which has been extended to June 28.
PETALING JAYA: The aid and initiatives for the urban poor and vulnerable groups under the recent Pemerkasa stimulus programme are a welcome effort that’s much-lauded by the B40 community.
Pemerkasa – or the People and Economic Strategic Empowerment Programme – includes various provisions for these groups under the Bantuan Rentan Bandar (Aid for Urban Vulnerable Group) initiative.
Among those who hailed the initiative was former quality assurance supervisor Mohd Zaini Saleh, 54.
“In these trying times, many people have lost jobs and any aid will help the affected families. For instance, if there is food aid for one month, at least for that month they don’t have to worry so much about putting food on the table.
HE is best known as a children’s rights advocate, a path that he chose about four decades ago. He has travelled the world observing, learning and cham.