Vending machines to provide assistance for B40 community

Residents of Pangsapuri Kayu Ara will benefit from an innovative initiative aimed at helping the underprivileged (B40) group. The Selangor state government has introduced a program that uses vending machines to provide food assistance and promote state government initiatives to the target group.

According to Jamaliah Jamaluddin, the state assemblyperson for Bandar Utama, the vending machines provide a dual function.

“The machine serves as a double-edged sword providing the target group with information and assistance,” she said.

The two self-service vending machines, located at Pangsapuri Kayu Ara, offer basic goods, personal care items, and medications that can be purchased with e-wallets. In addition, a screen display is used to promote state government initiatives. Among the programs promoted are Skim Mesra Usia Emas (SMUE), Bantuan Kehidupan Sejahtera Selangor (Bingkas), Skim Insurans Am Selangor (INSAN), and Rumah Selangorku.

“This initiative will make it easier for the public, especially the B40 group, to obtain the information they need,” Jamaliah said at the launch of the vending machines in Bandar Utama.

“Through this pilot project, we installed two machines that include 19 food items, 45 items for personal care, and medications. This is convenient for the recipient because they may use the e-wallet to buy the things they need whenever they want because it is open 24 hours a day.”

Jamaliah said her office has allocated RM30,000 by crediting RM100 into the e-wallet accounts of 100 recipients for the first three months of the machine’s operation. “We hope that this pilot project will help us identify the needs of the B40 group and develop more initiatives to help them,” she added.

In conclusion, the state government’s use of vending machines to provide food assistance and promote state initiatives in Bandar Utama is an innovative approach that is benefiting the underprivileged. The program is a pilot project that aims to identify the needs of the B40 group and develop more initiatives to help them.

With the vending machines accessible 24/7 and providing information on state programs, residents of Bandar Utama are finding the initiative convenient and useful.

Source: Selangor Journal