KOTA ISKANDAR: The government’s move to introduce the E-Kasih programme to help the poor was a good move towards caring for the less fortunate but too many procedures have led to confusion.
Munusamy Mareemuthu (BN-Permas) said the government recently launched the programme under the Prime Minister’s department to help the poor to receive welfare aid.
“Recipients from the welfare department or other agencies must re-register themselves under the E-Kasih programme,” he said, adding this has created difficulties among the poor as they face a risk of not getting aid.

He questioned why individuals who have registered with the welfare department or other agencies could not be automatically registered under the E-Kasih programme.
Munusamy said automatic registration for those who had already registered with the Welfare department would prevent their names and information from being disregarded.
“We do not want the poor to be burdened by a weak system,” he said He said E-Kasih registrants would also be entitled for assistance in enrolling for public universities.

Mohamad Taslim (PAS-Maharani) wanted to know of target groups for the programme.
“I have been asked to support applications by the poor for the programme but their names are not in the system,” he said.
Mohamed said further checks on their background revealed the applicants were really poor.
“The Government must ensure the registration for the programme is made easier in order to help the poor,” he said.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Strict vetting for preschool permits

PERMITS would be issued to new kindergarten operators in Johor only if they met safety and security requirements as outlined by the State Education Department. This was one of the preventive measures to beef up security at kindergartens and prevent a repeat of the "hammer attack" incident at Tadika Senario in Muar on March 10.

In that incident, three pupils of the kindergarten were injured when a man barged into their classroom and hit them with a hammer. The attacker has yet to be caught.

State Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development, Education and Higher Education Committee chairman Datuk Maulizan Bujang said although that was an isolated case, new kindergarten operators would be subjected to stringent vetting before approvals were given.
Applicants must also submit the location of the premise and other security procedures.

Maulizan, who was replying to Dr Mohammad Taslim (Pas-Maharani), said other details included the structure of the building, toilet facilities, lighting, a clean canteen and hygienic surroundings.

"Checks would also be conducted to ensure that the kindergartens adhere to regulations. Operators would also be issued reminders if their establishments were not up to mark."

He said there were more than 1,100 registered kindergartens in Johor.

On another matter, Johor recorded a 22 per cent increase in the number of dengue cases in the first seven months of this year compared with the same period last year.

Of the 1,818 cases, seven were fatal dengue haemorrhagic cases. More than 60 per cent of the cases were in Johor Baru.

State Women, Family, Health and Community Development Committee chairman Dr Robia Kosai said there were 188 hot spots, of which 158 were Johor Baru.

Rsponding to Ayub Rahmat (BN-Kemelah) and Goh Tee Tee (BN-Tangkak), Dr Robia said the hot spots in Johor Baru included the Jalan Tembusu flats, Rumah Rakyat Lima Kedai, Wadihana Condominium, Century Garden and Taman Johor Jaya.

She said warnings had been issued to the residents.