COVID-19: 8.63 million households will get face masks for free

Most of the face masks that the country has imported will be distributed to the people for free based on the household data obtained, Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.

Ismail Sabri, who is also the Defence Minister, said the masks would be distributed to 8.63 million households by the State and District Disaster Management Committees.

According to him, the distribution process will begin once the shipment of the face masks reached the country.

“It has been announced by the Prime Minister (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) that the masks will be given free. We are now waiting for the masks from the country we imported them, (and) when it arrives, we will be distributing it in stages,” he said in a press conference today.

In addition to households, Ismail Sabri said the masks would also be distributed to frontline personnel such as Ministry of Health personnel, police and military personnel, and related agencies.

He also stressed that the 10 million face masks were not obtained for free but were purchased by the government.

"The government cannot get it free as claimed by many people but the government buys it from the country (of exporter)," he added.

In a separate development, Ismail Sabri said the COVID-19 Fund has received RM8.129 million, of which 70 percent or RM5.68 million would be used to help the people affected by the Movement Control Act (MCO), especially the less fortunate people in this country.

He said the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development would be given the responsibility to distribute food assistance to the group.