250,000 People Benefit From UMNO Welfare Tour Programme
KUALA TERENGGANU, June 1 (Bernama) -- About 250,000 people nationwide have benefited from the 'UMNO Helps the People' (UMNO Bantu Rakyat) programme organised by its Welfare Bureau (BiKUM).
BiKum chairman Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said it would do a postmortem of the programme which was launched on May 19 to identify its effectiveness and carry out follow-up measures.
He said, through the programme, people comprising orphans, underprivileged families, single mothers and chronically-ill patients had received aid and contributions in the form of cash, essential goods and the opening of Tabung Haji and National Education Savings Scheme (SSPN-i) accounts.
"For the first phase of the programme, Terengganu is the final destination after touring to 21 locations nationwide. Through the initiative, we indirectly become the government's watchdog in securing information and views on welfare issues while improving the service capacity of Barisan Nasional (BN)," he said.
He told this to reporters after attending the 'UMNO Bantu Rakyat' programme and breaking of fast with the Terengganu Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman, at the Seri Iman Residence, here yesterday.
Earlier, he also handed out contributions of daily essential goods to 200 poor families, while 100 Year One students were given the opportunity to open SSPN-i accounts.
Shamsul Anuar who is also PTPTN chairman and Lenggong Member of Parliament said, in general, BiKUM had contributed RM515,000 to the target group in the state, including aid given through each UMNO Division.
-- BERNAMA
