The Prihatin Rakyat financial aid disbursement for Malaysians affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Movement Control Order (MCO) will be made starting this Monday, instead of the original date of the end of April.
Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said the expedited payout has been made possible by cooperation among all parties involved, especially the Inland Revenue Board and Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN).
“The RM9.24 billion Prihatin Rakyat financial aid will be disbursed in two phases beginning Monday.
“The first phase of payments, totalling RM5.63 billion, will be made in stages to 8.3 million recipients under four categories,” he said in a statement today.
The four categories are B40 with household income of RM4,000 and below (total of RM3.24 billion allocated for 3.24 million recipients); B40 (bachelor) with income of RM2,000 and below (RM1.81 billion for 3.62 million recipients); M40 with household income of between RM4,001 and RM8,000 (RM0.44 billion for 0.88 million recipients); and M40 (bachelor) with household income of between RM2,000 and RM4,000 (RM0.14 billion for 0.56 recipients).
Meanwhile, Tengku Zafrul has advised the public to be wary of scammers who have become more daring in taking advantage of the current difficult situation to cheat those truly in need of Prihatin assistance.
The Finance Minister also reminded recipients to refer only to official sources and abstain from giving out information to unknown parties.
The RM250 billion Prihatin Rakyat economic stimulus package was announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on March 27, and via the ministry’s statement on Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) on March 29. – NST