By Ida Nadirah Ibrahim
SHAH ALAM, March 27 — The Federal government has today announced an inclusive one-off cash aid that would benefit the majority of the people, as it includes those from the M40 or middle-income group as well.
In a special address today, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said several one-time cash assistance has been allocated for different groups, such as those from the private sectors, students, civil servants, vulnerable groups, as well as e-hailing drivers.
“This is the first time a cash aid will be distributed to the M40 group as well.
“A lot of the initiatives taken are one-off payments so that it would not burden the Federal government’s finances in the medium term.
“This is important to ensure that the country’s fiscal and debt position remain sustainable,” he said in his special address aired on television and social media platforms.
The one-off cash assistance, which will be disbursed within this year, are categorised as follow:
1. RM10 billion allocated for the Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (for all in M40 group and bellow)
- RM 1,600 to almost 4 million households with a monthly income of RM4,000 and below. The first RM1,000 payment will be disbursed in April while the remaining RM600 in May.
- RM 1,000 to almost 1.1 million households with a monthly income between RM4,000 to RM8,000. The first RM500 payment will be disbursed in April while the remaining RM500 in May.
- RM 800 to almost 3 million single individuals aged 21 years and below, with a monthly income of RM2,000 and below. The first RM500 payment will be disbursed in April while the remaining RM300 in May.
- RM 500 to almost 400,000 single individuals aged 21 years and above, with a monthly income between RM2,000 to RM4,000. The first RM250 payment will be disbursed in April while the remaining RM250 in May.
2. An allocation of RM3.2billion for the Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH) programme that will be disbursed to the recipients in July.
3. RM270 million allocated for higher education students
- RM200 cash aid per student to be disbursed in May to all students in the higher-learning institutions, including matriculation centres, community colleges, polytechnics, and both public and private universities.
3. RM25 million for the vulnerable groups
4. Civil servants
- RM500 for 1.5 million public servants Grade 56 and below, including contract-based staff. Payment will be disbursed in April.
- RM500 to 850,000 retired civil servants. Payment will be disbursed in April.
4. RM60 million for e-hailing drivers
- RM500 to 120,000 e-hailing drivers. In the earlier announced economic package on February 27, the government had offered a RM600 one-off payment to taxi drivers beginning April 1.
