By Karen Bong
KUCHING, May 9: Single Sarawakians eligible for the one-off RM500 cash payment by Sarawak government under Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang 3.0 (BKSS 3.0) need not apply as the list of recipients has been determined based on the income tax data.
Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah explained that the process to identify the eligible individuals was similar to that of Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN).
“Similar to the BPN, they (eligible individuals) do not need to apply because the list of recipients is identified based on the Inland Revenue Board (IRB)’s tax assessment records which is how the number of recipients is made known,” she said.
Fatimah was responding to queries relating to the cash aid for single individuals aged 21 and above who earn below RM2,000 monthly which was rolled out by the state government under BKSS 3.0 yesterday (May 8).
For individuals who could not be identified through the database for various reasons, especially those who have not been registered, she said that they could apply for the financial aid at the district office.
She emphasised that details of the scheme including the schedule of payments to be credited into accounts as well as when and where to apply for new applications will be informed by the relevant authorities in due time.
The BKSS 3.0, she said was targeted at sectors which were not included in the previous BKSS 1.0 and 2.0 including single individuals, other frontliners, B40 household heads missing from the list, as well as various operators affected due to the major impact on the travel and tourism industry.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, in rolling out BKSS 3.0, disclosed that 377,086 single Sarawakians aged 21 and above whose monthly income is under RM2,000 will be given a one-off RM500 from the state government.
The lower-income B40 household heads with a monthly income of RM4,000 and below, who were entitled but not listed in BKSS 1.0, will be given a RM1,500 cash assistance.
This will benefit some 30,000 heads of household. They have been identified based application and appeal made online and through the District Office from April 18 to 28.
Assistant Minister of Community Wellbeing Datuk Francis Harden Hollis, Sarawak Women and Family Department director Noriah Ahmad and permanent secretary to the Ministry Dr Saadiah Abdul Samat were present.—DayakDaily
