Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz has announced that the government has disbursed a total of RM5.2 billion to 7.6 million eligible Malaysians through the Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) initiative as of 19 April 2020.

The figures shared included the payments made to 400,000 recipients who do not own bank accounts, belonging to the B40 income category. According to Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul, this group of recipients received their BPN aid in cash through Bank Simpanan Malaysia (BSN) counters.

“I am touched by the BSN officers who were dedicated to helping the recipients. Some staff helped those who could not walk and others handed them mineral water,” said the minister. He also expressed his gratitude to BSN, the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), and the police force for their assistance in distributing the BPN cash aid.

Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul also said that out of the RM5.2 billion, RM480 million was credited into the bank accounts of 1.2 million recipients from the M40 income group. Additionally, LHDN has received more than 3 million new applications and appeals. If approved, these recipients will get their payments in May 2020.

In his statement, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul further reassured the Malaysian public that the government will explore other long-term digital banking solutions to assist those without bank accounts and other individuals who were left out of the system.

The BPN cash aid, which was announced as part of the Prihatin Economic Stimulus Package, is a one-off payment offered to those in the B40 and M40 income groups. The payments are to be carried out in two parts – once in April, and once in May – and will be deposited directly into the bank accounts of eligible individuals, except for those who do not have one. Those without active bank accounts will be paid in cash at BSN branches.

The BPN cash aid is also open to bankrupt or blacklisted individuals, and they may make online applications at LHDN’s official website or its quick link.

Following the end of the aid disbursement in April 2020, LHDN had urged all approved BPN recipients who have yet to receive their payments to update their bank account details by 30 April 2020.

(Source: The Star)

• TAGS:
• B40
• Bank Simpanan Malaysia
• Bantuan Prihatin Nasional
• BPN
• BSN
• Covid-19
• Economic Stimulus Package
• Inland Revenue Board
• Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri
• LHDN
• M40
• Ministry of Finance
• Movement Control Order
• PRIHATIN Economic Stimulus Package
• Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz