Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - An elderly UAE citizen who was mocked on a radio in Ajman for speaking about his inability to provide for his family was invited by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the UAE’s prime minister and the ruler of Dubai, to attend a cabinet meeting with the minister of community development.

According to the Khaleej Times, the meeting reviewed the minister’s action plan to support low-income citizens. Al-Maktoum tweeted on Sunday saying that they have adopted 11 billion AED in social assistance to aid all low-income families for the next three years. He added that the man, Ali Rashid al-Mazrouei was also appointed as a social researcher at the ministry.

Mazrouei, 57, pointed out to the newspaper that his call was aimed at focusing the attention of the government department concerned to meet the needs of citizens, especially those with limited income.

“I made the call because I wanted to push the department to speed up and follow up on my application for a house so I can provide shelter for my nine children, who are minors,” the newspaper reported Mazrouei as saying.

“I’m suffering from a host of diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, due to which I am unable to work and support my family. I have to depend on the monthly salary given by the social affairs department, which is no longer enough to meet my household requirements.”

Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, had earlier ordered the suspension of the radio program host Yaqoub Al Awadhi who mocked Mazrouei.

“When I called, I never expected such kind of shocking and disappointing reaction from the presenter. But I knew that my voice had reached the right people and the UAE leadership would not hesitate to support me and provide me justice,” the father of nine said.

He added that the UAE’s wise leadership is keen to preserve “our dignity inside and outside the country”.

* Al Arabiya