[UPDATED] Applicants without Prihatin grants to be automatically considered for Keluarga M’sia aid

KUALA LUMPUR – Prihatin special grant applicants who did not receive any assistance will be automatically considered to receive the Keluarga Malaysia Assistance (BKM), said Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.

During the winding-up of the Budget 2022 debate at the committee level, he said this latest announcement stems from the views he had received from various MPs.

“Prihatin applicants who were not approved for the special Covid-19 assistance will be automatically considered for BKM. They don’t have to make a fresh application.

“These data will be collected from nine other government agencies including e-Kasih, the Welfare Department, public housing schemes under local authorities. Single mothers, those under the Orang Asli Development Department, and Social Security Organisation or Baitulmal recipients will be included under BKM.

“This is to reduce exclusion errors,” said Tengku Zafrul.

He added that new BKM applications can be made on January 1-31.

This will ensure that those who are not registered, but are eligible for the assistance, will have an opportunity to apply.

During the tabling of Budget 2022, Tengku Zafrul had said Putrajaya will introduce the new BKM financial aid for low-income households.

Households with three or more children earning below RM2,500 a month are set to receive RM2,000 a month under the BKM scheme.

“The disbursement of this aid is an increase from the previous RM1,800 under Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR).” 

Putrajaya expects BKM would benefit more than 9.6 million recipients with an allocation of RM8.2 billion, which is an increase from the previous 8.6 million recipients under BPR with an allocation of RM7 billion. – The Vibes, November 24, 2021