Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Rina Harun has drawn flak over allegations that she has politicised food baskets.
This is after a resident in her constituency, Kuala Lumpur’s Titiwangsa, alleged that an application for a food basket was rejected due to the applicant being a voter in a neighbouring constituency.
At present, the government has allocated RM300,000 to each MP to give out food baskets in their constituencies under the Pemulih aid package.
Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh said there was no requirement that the food baskets should only be given to those of the same constituency as the MP.
“Rina is a minister and government MP. In Titiwangsa, they have access to RM3.5 million a year (in development funds). And now an additional RM300,000 (for food baskets). What is her excuse?
“If opposition MPs like me can give food aid without looking at voting status, it means Rina is all about politics and votes even in the time of a pandemic,” she said when contacted.
Yeoh added that as a minister, Rina would also have additional funds at her disposal to carry out aid work.
Malaysiakini is attempting to get a response from the minister regarding the matter.
An aide, meanwhile, told Malaysiakini that they were looking into the Titiwangsa resident’s allegation.
It is understood that the affected resident is in touch with the MP of the constituency where they are registered to vote in order to get aid.
This is not the first time Rina has come under fire over food baskets.
Last month, she was criticised over her food baskets being plastered with stickers with her face on it. – Malaysiakini