KUALA NERANG: A Kedah state assemblyman has criticised the Padang Terap Welfare Department for using invalid reasons as basis to cease monetary aids to certain recipients here.
Kuala Nerang state assemblyman Datuk Syed Sobri Syed Hashim said the department’s bureaucracy had led to hardship for the disabled and senior citizens.
Speaking to reporters here yesterday, he said a list containing the names of affected recipients would be forwarded to the women, family and community development minister for their re-consideration.
Among those badly-hit are Zamri Hassan, 28, and wife Nurul Asma Abdullah, 24, of Kampung Baru, Perik, here. Their RM300 monthly monetary aid was halted.
The money was to enable the couple to buy special milk for only daughter, Siti Mariam, seven, who suffers from hole-in-the-heart ailment. The ailment was diagnosed last December.
Zamri undertakes odd-jobs in the village to earn just RM500 a month to support his family and settle part of his daughter’s treatment.
He said, based on the letter from the Padang Terap Welfare Department dated Feb 21, the stoppage was because Siti Mariam was healthy and was not suffering from cronic illnesses.
However, Zamri said, this was contrary to a confirmation letter from the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital which indicated the girl was still sick and required treatment at the Institut Jantung Negara.
Hashim Mohamad, 79, from Kampung Baru here, also felt he had been dealt with unfairly by the welfare department.
The RM300 he had received from the department for six months was stopped in October last year.
“The department said my four sons will be able to support me and my wife. My children are only labourers and factory workers. They have their own families and would not be able to support us,” he said.
Another senior citizen, Abu Bakar Jasin, from Kampung Kubu here, received a letter in September, which terminated his monetary aid. The letter stated that as he had children of his own, he should depend on them (children) for assistance.
“Three of my sons barely earn enough for themselves as their livelihood involves cutting grass and tapping rubber,” said the 69-year-old.
They are among 80 poor people in the Kuala Nerang area, identified via the ‘Search’ programme which comes under the ministry. — Bernama