KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 — Additional aid and subsidies from a RM23 billion additional amount presented via the Supplementary Supply Bill (2023) 2024 is indicative of the government’s commitment to helping the people cope with rising living costs, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.
The bill involves the disbursement of an amount not exceeding RM23.48 billion from the Consolidated Fund for additional expenditure on services for 2023.
“Among the assistances which have been improved in 2023 are the Early Schooling Aid (BAP), the Rubber Production Incentive, and the Paddy Price Subsidy Scheme to help the people in general and also vulnerable groups like smallholders,” he said when winding up the debate on the bill in the Dewan Rakyat today.
The efforts will continue in 2024 with the refinement of the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) initiatives.
“All the improvements in cash assistance to the people prove the Madani government will always ensure the less able continue to be protected. Savings achieved from prudent spending can be redistributed to the needy,” Amir said.
For this year, the STR has increased by RM2 billion, or 25 per cent, to RM10 billion from RM8 billion in 2023.
“The provision of STR has benefited around nine million recipients, which is equivalent to 60 per cent of Malaysia’s adult population.
“The STR rate has increased by at least RM300 per household, including over four million beneficiaries,” he said.
The minister added that the STR Phase One payment, which was distributed at the end of January this year, also increased by up to RM500 from RM300 last year.
Amir said for this year, Sara has been expanded five-fold to RM700 million compared to RM130 million last year.
“Sara recipients will now expand to include the poor and extreme poor compared to 2023 which is limited to the extreme poor. Its recipients increased to 700,000 (2024) from 210,000 (2023).
“The Sara rate for households increased to RM1,200 (2024) from RM600 (2023),” he said.
In addition, under the Madani government, student assistance has also been improved.
Starting last year, the government expanded BAP recipients to all students from Standard One to Form Five.
“The RM150 BAP payment to all students has been distributed since January this year, involving almost RM800 million in allocation to help over five million students prepare for school, compared to only three million before 2023,” Amir said.
Meanwhile, under the Madani government, the Rubber Production Incentive has been increased not once but twice, from RM2.50 per kg in 2022 to RM2.70 per kg last year and to RM3.00 per kg this year.
“The Madani government also took steps to increase paddy farmers’ income. The rate of the Paddy Price Subsidy Scheme has been increased from RM360 per tonne in 2022 to RM500 per tonne in 2023,” he said.
The Dewan Rakyat session continues tomorrow.
— Bernama
