Show casing improved access to public sector services

Officials from the Department of Social Welfare and Taskforce, JPM meeting to make preparations

Special update on Program Mesra Rakyat on Jan 31, 2011 (Mon) at Kulim, Kedah

Many have been asking what is the outcome of all the many request from ordinary people during the 2010 Mesra Rakyat Program. A total of 4,900 request of various kinds for assistance was received. The Taskforce has been working with the agencies and community leaders to ensure concrete results and action.

On Jan 31 (Mon) 2011, the SITF Chairman and Human Resources Minister, Datuk Dr Subramaniam will revisit Kulim and meet those who have been successful in accessing the agency resources. Two hundred and three Indians in Kulim managed to secure welfare assistance. All these are new cases and they will directly receive monthly income support through the Department of Social Welfare.

SITF secretariat held a meeting with officials of the Department of Social Welfare yesterday (Jan 12, 2010 at 2.30pm at the Department’s HQ in city centre. Mr Inau Edin Norm, Deputy Director General, Department of Social Welfare chaired the meeting attended by three officials from the Department and the Taskforce secretariat.

We reviewed the preparations for this event and acknowledged that while this is a clear show case of improved access but at the same time our efforts must be towards empowering people towards self reliance and self help not welfare grant dependency.

We hope to release the SITF report on the Program Mesra Rakyat on Jan 31, 2010 for media and public review. Ensuring access, inclusion and opportunities is an on going process. There is room for more improvements but we are in the right step forward.