KUALA LUMPUR: MCA’s proposals for the poor and needy to be given direct financial aid have been welcomed as timely.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin described the RM100 payment to school students as a “good suggestion” and that the Government needed to work out the details.

“Let the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) who is also the Finance Minister have a look at it first before we decide on anything,” Muhyiddin said yesterday.
MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong had suggested the money be given to primary and secondary students from low- and middle-income families during the opening of the movement’s 47th annual general assembly on Saturday.

He added that the aid was for school uniforms and other educational needs.

In PETALING JAYA, Fomca secretary-general Muham­mad Sha’ani Abdullah said providing monthly allowances for the poor should be implemented as soon as possible.

He was responding to MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek’s suggestion that the Government consider some form of monthly allowance for the poor to help overcome hardships in their household expenses.

Muhammad Sha’ani said long-term measures needed to be implemented and ensure better quality of life for the underprivileged.