TELUK INTAN, Feb 25 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said all ministries and government agencies have been asked to intensify aid programmes so that those who were facing problems as a result of the economic slowdown receive appropriate assistance.
"During the difficult period, it is hoped that this (assistance) will ease their burden," the Prime Minister told reporters after launching the Federal Welfare Aid's Social Security Network Card, here on Wednesday.
He said such aid should not only be channelled to the poor and the disabled, but those who were hard pressed due to economic difficulties.
A comprehensive aid programme encompassing the agricultural, industrial and housing sectors should be intensified so that the groups who truly needed assistance were not sidelined, he said.
"We want to raise capacity so that they will have jobs and can set up their own enterprises," he said.
On the Federal Welfare Aid's Social Security Network Card, Abdullah said the initiatives taken by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry was aimed to ensure that all the target groups would enjoy the benefits provided.
Among others, the programme targeted the hardcore poor, the disabled, the aged and children.
"What is important is that besides the financial aid, other programmes are also being carried out to build their capacity in terms of housing, employment and their own enterprises in agriculture and so on," he said.
Meanwhile in another development, the Prime Minister said the opposition actually liked to make up stories aimed at sensationalising the issues.
"They make up all kinds of stories to make it exciting...assumptions and accusations are made which should not be entertained and exaggerated," he said.
He said this when commenting on the claim by two State Assemblymen from the opposition coalition in Perak that they had received offers of up to RM20 million and positions if they were to become independent assemblymen or join the Barisan Nasional (BN).
The two Assemblymen, Keshvinder Singh (DAP-Malim Nawar) and Abdul Yunus Jamsani (PKR-Kuala Kurau) lodged reports to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in Ipoh on Wednesday.
On preparations to face the three simultaneous by-elections, Abdullah, who is also the BN chairman, said equal emphasis would be given to all the constituencies contested by the BN.
The by-election for the Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat in Perak and Bukit Selambau state constituency in Kedah would be held simultaneously on April 7 while the Election Commission (EC) would set the date for the Batang Ai state constituency in Sarawak next week.
When asked on the existence of camps among candidates contesting in the Umno election next month, Abdullah, who is also Umno president, said there should not be any factions.
"There shouldn't be any camps, all the candidates are known to the members (delegates). They can decide...no need to campaign," he said.
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