KUALA LUMPUR – The government has expedited the implementation of Phase 1 of the Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR), bringing it forward from May to the end of next month, said Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
He expressed hope that this assistance will benefit more than eight million B40 recipients under Bantuan Prihatin Nasional 2.0 (BPN 2.0) and Bantuan Sara Hidup 2020 (BSH 2020), as well as those whose application were approved later.
The application process for BPR is open until February 15 and can be accessed online.
In presenting the 38th Implementation and Coordination Unit Between National Agencies (Laksana) report on the implementation of various government initiatives today, the minister also attempted to clear the confusion regarding BPN 2.0 – the final payment of the Bantuan Prihatin Nasional aid under the Prihatin Supplementary Initiative Package (Kita Prihatin).
He appealed to those eligible for the assistance to be patient given the huge sum involved, which will require at least a week to be fully credited to all recipients.
Tengku Zafrul noted that the distribution of BPN 2.0 Phase 2, with a value of RM2.38 billion, had begun on January 21.
He said 6.4 million accounts were credited from January 21-24 while 3.8 million accounts had been or are being credited during the January 25-29 period.
From Monday, about 750,000 B40 and M40 recipients without bank accounts had begun cash collection at Bank Simpanan Nasional branches in the peninsula, he added.
“The government hopes that the expedited assistance will provide some cash flow relief for 11.06 million single and household recipients during this movement control order period,” he said.
He also expressed hope that the rising trend of daily recoveries from Covid-19 in the country will continue to rise.
He noted that on Sunday, 4,427 recoveries were recorded – the highest daily recoveries up to now. – Bernama, January 27, 2021
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