No misappropriation of funds, welfare dept says

sun2surf - The state has dismissed a claim that its welfare department may be involved in misappropriation of funds.

State Health, Welfare and Caring Society Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said today some welfare allowances to needy citizens have been left unissued due to an administrative oversight.

He explained that registered welfare recipients are required to update their bank passbooks by the 25th of each month, but many failed to do so, resulting in their allowances being channelled into an accrued account.

He said all pending monies will be disbursed into the accounts of the relevant individuals once they update their passbooks.

Phee was responding to criticism by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen who was quoted in the vernacular press as expressing suspicions about misappropriation by state welfare officers.

Phee said today the disbursement process, now being done through Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN), follows the federal government system of giving allowances.

"This is the problem we have inherited from the former Barisan Nasional government," he said. "The system is a little chaotic.

"If Ng does not understand this, she can come to Penang and we will give her a briefing." >> selanjutnya