Johor delivers food baskets to Msians stranded in Singapore

ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johor state government on Thursday began sending food baskets to Malaysians stranded in Singapore due to Covid-19 border restrictions.

Some 300 food baskets worth RM30,000 will be sent to Malaysian workers in the republic.

Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad said the distribution of 300 baskets containing ready-to-eat food, snacks, blankets and personal healthcare packs will be carried out in stages.

He said the state government is cooperating with the Malaysian High Commission in Singapore to speed up the distribution process.

He said the effort also involves Wisma Putra, the Customs Department, Immigration Department, Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis), Johor Corporation (JCorp), Johor Public Transport Authority, Southern Volunteers and Johor Baru Heavy Machine Motor Club (HMMC).

“The state government plans to distribute 1,000 food baskets, but for the first phase, we will send 300 baskets first as advised by our High Commission in Singapore.

“We will continue this effort until all 1,000 are sent, then we will carry on. The delivery depends on the advice of our High Commission there, because we have to follow that country’s rules,” he told reporters after sending off a lorry containing the food baskets at Dataran Mahkota Kota Iskandar here, yesterday.

Also present were state Tourism, Youth and Sports Committee chairman, Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and Johor Financial Officer, Datuk A Rahim Nin.

Hasni said that the Johor government will also enable the public to help Malaysians stuck in Singapore due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This effort, led by Datuk Onn Hafiz, is due to Johorians wanting to help ease the burden of their fellow Malaysians in the island republic,” he added.

Last Thursday, Hasni announced the food basket initiative in the 2021 Johor Budget to help Malaysians in Singapore. – Bernama

Source: NST