Government to ensure flood victims get essential goods

Government to ensure flood victims get essential goods
Thursday December 13, 2007

PETALING JAYA: The Government has swung into action to ensure essential goods reach flood victims.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry officers would also prevent profiteering.

Minister Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal said since most vegetables were from Cameron Highlands, there was no reason for traders to increase prices.

He said the ministry was keeping an eye on supplies such as chillies and pineapples by farmers in flood-affected areas but there were no problems so far.

“Last year, the supply of petrol, cooking gas and cooking oil was cut off to certain remote areas because of transport problems,” he said.

Earlier, he flagged off two trucks of supplies worth about RM100,000 for flood victims in Kota Baru, Kelantan and Muar, Johor.

The goods, contributed by Tesco Stores in Mutiara Damansara, were mainly canned food and basic items such as instant food, drinking water and diapers for infants and senior citizens.

Mohd Shafie also commended Tesco for its humanitarian effort.

Tesco has launched donation drives at its 19 stores nationwide to collect clothes, food items or cash for flood victims, said its corporate and legal affairs director Azlam Shah Alias. -- The Star.