HOME MINISTRY STILL COLLECTING INFORMATION ON ALLEGED SOUTH KOREAN CULT - SAIFUDDIN NASUTION

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 7 (Bernama) -- Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that his ministry is still in the process of collecting information regarding the alleged existence of a cult from South Korea believed to be operating in the country.

Responding to a reporter’s question on whether he had received any information on the matter from Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin (Dr MAZA), Saifuddin said he was unable to comment further at this stage as investigations and information-gathering efforts are still ongoing.

“I am still collecting information,” he said briefly after attending the presentation of Back-to-School Assistance and Donations organised by the Home Ministry’s Puspanita branch here today.

Also present were Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah and the patron of the Home Ministry’s Puspanita, Datin Seri Norhayati Musa.

Commenting on the Back-to-School programme, Saifuddin Nasution said that it was the inaugural event organised by the Home Ministry’s Puspanita for the year, involving more than 300 recipients comprising children of ministry staff as well as those from various agencies and departments under the ministry.

According to him, the organisation of the programme also received support from several private companies.

“The purpose of this programme is to help ease parents’ expenses in preparing school supplies, as the school session will begin next week. To some extent, it can help reduce the financial burden borne by the families involved,” he said.

He added that the initiative was first implemented at the ministry level by identifying recipients among the children of employees, before being expanded through various other programmes in the future.

Meanwhile, Saifuddin Nasution said the government also plays a crucial role through Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement of an RM800 million allocation for the one-off Early Schooling Aid (BAP), with each student from Year One to Form Six receiving RM150, to be channelled through their respective schools.

“The combination of government allocations, initiatives by bodies such as Puspanita, and support from private companies is a positive effort that should be continued,” he said.

He also expressed his gratitude that such initiatives could be implemented in a country that is politically stable and economically prosperous, ensuring that the benefits reach and are enjoyed by the people.

-- BERNAMA