KUCHING, Aug 27: Selected Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) branches in Sarawak will be open tomorrow (Aug 28) to facilitate the payment process of Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang (BKSS), Bantuan Prihatin (BPN) and Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR).
The branches will be open from 9am until 1pm.
The BSN branches involved are the Sarawak Main Branch, Kota Samarahan Branch, Serian Branch, Sri Aman Branch, Sarikei Branch, Sibu Branch, Sibujaya Branch, Bintulu Branch, Miri Branch and Permyjaya Branch.
For more details, the public can contact the BSN Contact Centre at 1300-88-1900.
With the first phase of cash aid from the State and Federal governments being disbursed, members of the public have been seen forming long queues outside BSN branches since Wednesday to collect their cash aid.
In Miri, long queues began forming as early as 2am for two days since Aug 25, but many were left disappointed as the bank began to limit the number of patrons allowed inside the premises to cash out the BKSS vouchers.
The huge crowd has raised serious concerns among the public regarding the spread of Covid-19 as safety measures can hardly be observed in such queues, including physical distancing.
People have thus urged relevant authorities to look into improving the banking facilities and ease the process of cashing out the payments.
The financial assistance is crucial to help the lower income B40 group, who have been hit hard by the pandemic, to cope with the rising cost of living and survive in these difficult times. — DayakDaily
