Armed Forces to transport food, necessities to rural Sabah, Sarawak

The Malaysian Armed Forces will deploy its assets to transport food supplies and necessities to the rural areas of Sabah and Sarawak throughout the Movement Control Order (MCO) period.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said this was agreed upon at the COVID-19 special meeting with Menteris Besar and Chief Ministers held today.

"We have had complaints from longhouse residents, for example, that basic necessities could not be sent to them.

"So, during the meeting, it was agreed that the Armed Forces will deploy its assets such as helicopters to transport products or food items and necessities to the rural areas of Sabah and Sarawak," he said.

Ismail Sabri, who is also Defence Minister, said people from those areas need not be unduly worried as the government will ensure there is sufficient food supply for them.

He said this at a media conference after the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Last Wednesday, Muhyiddin announced that the MCO, which took effect on March 18, and which was supposed to have ended today, had been extended to April 14.

-- BERNAMA