Festive aid lightens burden of Indian families in B40 group

ABOUT 300 Indian families that come under the B40 group received festive aid from the Federal Territories Ministry and KK Supermart and Superstore Sdn Bhd.

The annual aid in conjunction with Deepavali is a strategic partnership between the ministry, KK Mart and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad said the government had come up with various initiatives to help the B40 group deal with the rising costs of living.

“The selected families chosen from the eKasih list are considered among the hardcore poor.

“KK Mart stepped in as the main contributor this time. Such programmes are done annually for Hari Raya and Chinese New Year, ” he said during the aid presentation at Bank Rakyat Twin Tower, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.

Asked whether the aid would be increased next year, Khalid said he hoped there would be a decrease in needs.

“We have to create more jobs and get more of our locals working so that more of them do not need the contributions, ” he said, adding that they would continue with the contributions if needed.

The beneficiaries received RM150 as well as daily necessities such as rice, flour and cooking oil.

Also present were KK Supermart and Superstore Sdn Bhd founder and executive chairman Datuk Seri Dr KK Chai and DBKL executive director (Socioeconomic Develop-ment) Datuk Ibrahim Yusoff.