By Sharanjit Singh, New Straits Times
June 22, 2008


GEORGE TOWN: The government has directed agencies to intensify the search for poor and needy families who qualify for welfare assistance.

Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said the move was necessary as many people who qualified for assistance were not aware of it.

He said the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry would start a campaign under the "Cari" programme to look for those qualified to receive financial aid from the government.

"We want to ensure a comprehensive social safety net is established to help the poor and needy. Everyone who needs help must be given the aid quickly," he said yesterday.

Nor Mohamed said this after chairing the state-level Federal Action Council meeting here yesterday.

He said the closed-door meeting discussed at length how the government could help lighten the burden of people faced with the rising cost of living.

"That is why we decided to give the RM625 and RM150 rebate for motorists and motorcyclists after the fuel price increase," he said.

Touching on Penang, the Welfare Department had been directed to employ 60 officers to intensify the search for those who qualified for aid.

He said the officers, to be employed on contract, would look for recipients to be recorded under the national databank on the poor.

Later, Nor Mohamed handed over RM500 each to 227 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia high-achievers in the state last year at Dewan Sri Pinang.

The incentive was introduced under the Implemen-tation and Co-ordination Unit of the Prime Minister's Department.