SIBU, June 23: With the prices of many items on the rise, some Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia (BKM) recipients reckoned that the additional provision of cash aid will bring much relief.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Dato Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that B40 families and single individuals will receive RM100 and RM50 in BKM cash aid in stages from June 27.
He said this additional aid was in consideration of the challenging cost of living and the recent rise in food prices.
Sabri said the BKM Phase 2 payment will involve an allocation of RM1.11 billion and each BKM recipient will receive up to RM400 depending on their respective BKM qualification category.
Office administrator Ali Sabiee, 56, who is an eligible BKM recipient, very much welcomed the cash aid.
“This is good as it helps to reduce our burden considering that the price of most food items have increased lately,” he said.
He said the RM100 cash aid, though relatively small, could still assist to offset the rising cost of living.
“To some people, RM100 might not be that big, but for me, it helps me to buy a number of grocery items,” he said.
E-hailing driver, Ngu Wu Pow, 57, concurred with Ali.
Ngu is grateful that the government is providing the additional aid.
“This comes in handy as my business has been quite poor owing to the pandemic. I will use the aid to buy only what is necessary,” he said.
Ngu said he would buy food items.
Tutor Albert Tay, also agreed that the sudden announcement of the cash aid, helps people like him.
He said he would use the extra money to cover a portion of costs for his daily breakfast.
“If I divide RM100 by 12 months, it will be RM8.33 a month. A plate of fried noodles and kopi peng kaw cost about RM7.50. I still have 83 sen left. This is not bad. I can also use RM8.33 to buy one piece of chicken breast or chicken thigh,” he said. — DayakDaily
