The MADANI government remains committed to providing direct assistance through Ziarah Kasih to strengthen engagement with vulnerable communities.
MERSING: The MADANI Government will continue providing direct assistance to those in need through its Ziarah Kasih initiative as part of efforts to strengthen engagement with the people.
Political secretary to the Communications Minister Abdullah Izhar Mohamed Yusof said recipients were identified through the Department of Information and Komuniti MADANI with the programme aimed at helping ease the burden faced by vulnerable groups.
Speaking to reporters at the Jiwa@Komuniti MADANI Sembang Santai World Cup Edition programme in Endau here today, Abdullah Izhar said the initiative would continue to be implemented regularly in line with the Malaysia MADANI aspiration of prioritising the people’s well-being.
During the programme, he visited elderly residents facing health challenges and presented contributions and healthcare equipment.
One of the recipients, Hamdan Abd Latif, 71, who is bedridden and cared for by his wife, Meriam Abd Wahab, 66, said he was grateful for the assistance as it would help ease some of the burden faced by the family.
Meriam said the retired firefighter suffered a fall while fishing for prawns in 2011, about two weeks before he was due to retire.
She said medical examinations later revealed that Hamdan had a brain tumour and he subsequently underwent surgery.
Meriam said he was later declared free of the tumour, but the illness gradually affected his health before he suffered a stroke after falling in the bathroom last year.
“I used to earn additional income through sewing, but I can no longer do so as I now care for my husband full-time,” she said.
Another recipient, Zainon Ibrahim, 91, is being cared for by her son, Jamaluddin Ismail, 64, who quit his job about two years ago to look after his mother, with support from his siblings.
“We are grateful for the government’s assistance. At the very least, it helps us meet some of my mother’s daily needs,” said the former supervisor.
