‘We care for Penang’s poor’
‘We care for Penang’s poor’
Monday, February 13, 2012 – 17:00
by Llew-Ann Phang [1]
GEORGE TOWN: State health, welfare, caring society and environment committee chairman Phee Boon Poh disputed that the state was neglecting the poor, saying that there are three agencies involved in the mechanism, namely the district office, the welfare department and the state economic planning unit.
“It’s not that the state does not help the poor. We help the poor, but anyone acting out of love will not want publicity.
“Why? Because nobody really wants to be classified as being poor or hardcore poor. We need to take care of people’s feelings and not create a stigma for them and their children,” he said.
Phee told The Malay Mail that of the 702 families identified as hardcore poor, 32 have been taken off the list (as of Dec 31).
He pointed out that while the federal government kept its quota at RM430, the state had raised it to RM600.
“Anyone involved in charity work and sincerely works from the heart will not seek cheap publicity.
“The poor should come straight to me or the district office or the welfare department with their particulars and from there, get the aid they need,” he said, adding that the state also practises a system, encouraging agencies and assemblymen to visit hardcore poor families every three months to determine if they can be removed from the hardcore poor list.
“I’m very open and always happy to explain such mechanisms. I want to leave a legacy, a system that benefits society.
“When I help the hardcore poor, I do not allow the media to write about it or take pictures.
“We cannot hurt people’s feelings,” Phee said.
Nation
© Copyright 2012 Malay Mail Sdn. Bhd.
