Pilot phase of 1Malaysia Family Care to provide aid to those in need

SABAK BERNAM: Some 36,000 single mothers, senior citizens and the disabled have benefited from the pilot phase of 1Malaysia Family Care.

Jointly carried out by the Health Ministry and the Women, Family and Community Ministry, the programme is aimed at providing economic, social and health-screening activities for single mothers, senior citizens and the disabled.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, when launching the programme yesterday, said healthcare was a sector which should be given priority.

He said the programme was multi-dimensional and holistic and would cover all aspects of the target group's welfare.

Najib stressed that healthcare was as important as national security.

“Spain's economy is in recession; they can only claim to be champions of the World Cup. Malaysia does not want to be a World Cup champion. Even if we did, I don't think we can win it.

“But what is more important is that we are the champion at enriching the people,” he said.

Later in Kuala Langat, Najib said that aside from the country's security forces, it was the people who stood by the Government that made Malaysia a strong nation.

Taking a tour: Najib visiting a model house after launching the housing scheme for Sime Darby workers at Carey Island. With him is Mohd Bakke.

 

He said all Malaysians were indebted to the army and police in view of the standoff in Sabah.

“We must defend the safety and sovereignty of the nation.

“However, apart from the army and police, it is the rakyat, who stand firmly behind the Government that contribute to the strength and peace of the nation,” he said after launching Sime Darby Plantation's housing benefit for current and retired Malaysian plantation workers in Carey Island here yesterday.

A total of 400 units of single-storey terrace houses are expected to be built after two years under the initiative, with each unit priced from RM100,000.

On the housing project, Najib said it was an example of the Government fulfilling its promises.

“In mid-2012, I visited Carey Island and a few locals asked me about developing houses here, which is something they have been wanting for a while.

“When I met Datuk Mohd Bakke Salleh (Sime Darby Bhd president and group chief executive), I told him that the project should be done because the workers here have been contributing a lot to the company's success. Their service should not be denied or belittled by anyone,” he said.

During the event, Najib unveiled a life-size model of a house under the initiative, comprising three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Each house covers 800 square feet. The housing scheme comes on the heels of the Central Housing Complex (CHC), another housing benefit by Sime Darby Plantation for its workers last year.

The CHC will be rolled out across all Sime Darby plantations nationwide within the next 10 to 15 years.

On another matter, Najib said the Government would carry out intervention measures so that the social safety net and distribution of wealth would be more even.

(Source: The Star Online)