KUCHING, April 25: Where is the rest of the Sarawak government’s Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang (BKSS) financial assistance package of RM250 per month cash aid for Below 40 (B40) group promised last year, queries Sarawak DAP’s Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong.
Yong in a press statement today said many are still waiting for the money since the day the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg announced last year that payments of RM1,500 will be paid out to B40 households which qualify for the aid under the package.
“They need the money to get through this difficult time. The Sarawak government must answer where is the money which is supposed to be utilized for the RM250 per month cash aid for 6 months to the B40 households?
“How could it be possible that the money promised in 2020 for BKSS is yet to be paid out till now? It is ironic to see that a state government with an estimated revenue of RM10 billion is owing its people money, cannot fulfill the promises made,” she said.
The Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) leader noted last year (2020), the Sarawak government had through a few BKSS packages introduced financial assistance to help the B40 group to cushion the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, including RM250 per month cash aid for six months to B40 households.
Until today, she asserted, DAP still receives feedback from the public that the BKSS cash aid has yet to be fully disbursed to eligible recipients.
According to Yong, there are many cases whereby only RM500 or part of the payment were paid into their bank accounts instead of the RM1,500 approved under the household category.
“We are now in the mid of April, 2021, however not all the cash aid is fully given out as promised by the Sarawak government in Year 2020.
“If the Sarawak government is sincere in its pledge to help the people from the lower income bracket, full amount must be paid out without delay and there shouldn’t be any dragging over the matter and keep asking those qualified groups to wait for nothing,” she added.
Meanwhile, Yong also called on the Sarawak government to be transparent in the disbursement of the BKSS cash aid.
She requested for the State government to declare the full list and amount that have been paid to-date, including payments which are still outstanding.
“The eligible recipients are kept in the dark over the matter and there is no avenue to check on the status of payment and updates regarding the date of which the balance of the unpaid amount will be fully disbursed,” she said. — DayakDaily
