Don T Let People Crowd Around For Food Aid Say Police

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A food distribution programme held in Kesidang, Melaka. Police said crowds of people gathered at a separate event on July 1. (Allex Seah Facebook pic)MELAKA: Police have advised organisers of food aid events to ensure that their activities are carried out without a crowd of people, and in compliance with movement restriction rules.
Melaka Tengah police chief ACP Afzanizar Ahmad said an event at a food court at Plaza Malim here on July 1 had caused a crowd to gather while food packing and distribution activities were being carried out.
He denied that police had stopped any effort or assistance programme for the community affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and said there was some misunderstanding about allegations made by a state assemblyman about the Plaza Malim event.
“On the day of the incident, the Malim police station chief and two personnel were conducting SOP monitoring in the area, and there were many people queuing up at the five-foot way of the food court and they found that food was being distributed to the public,” he said, Bernama reported.
He said a woman at the scene admitted to being the organiser. Further checks revealed that there was food packing and distribution being carried out there.
He said the organiser was advised to stop the packing and distribution there because it caused many people to crowd around and the event was more than a face-to-face donation and not a food bank activity as claimed.
Afzanizar said police informed them about the proper SOP for food assistance event. No arrests were made or compounds issued to the organiser.
He said food assistance through food banks could be conducted without the need for many people to crowd around , and National Security Council rules must be followed.
Kesidang assemblyman Alex Seah Shoo Chin was reported today to have urged the government to facilitate food and kitchenware assistance and had questioned the need for approvals to provide assistance to the public through food bank initiatives. - FMT

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