Disabled were consulted: Rina Harun defends controversial JKMPay

KUALA LUMPUR – Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun (Titiwangsa-Bersatu) is standing by the controversial monthly welfare aid payment system, telling the Dewan Rakyat that the disabled community was consulted before its implementation.

She said the ministry had conducted a meeting with 23 non-government organisations last month to provide explanations and gain feedback on the implementation of the JKM Cashless Monthly Assistance Payment Project (JKMPay).

“The ministry has consulted and engaged with each state government where the pilot project was implemented. 

“Meanwhile, the disabled community, senior and poor citizens were given a briefing on the use of the card and application to ensure that they understand the concept of cashless payment as well as to guide them on how to use JKMPay,” she said during Question Time today.  

“For the time being, this project will remain a pilot project and its expansion is on hold until a report of the study is presented,” she said after a question by Kasthuri Patto (Batu Kawan-PH).

The cashless JKMPay started in February and included aid disbursement for children, senior citizens, and people with disabilities. 

Rina said the purpose of JKMPay is to help aid recipients manage how they spend it.

“The monetary assistance by JKM is not a lot. Hence, we need to ensure that their welfare and basic necessities such as clothing, food, and medicine are taken care of.”

A study conducted in October by the ministry involving 1,066 respondents showed that 80% said cashless is safer than cash payment, and 80% felt that their expense control is better managed with cashless payments.

On Tuesday, more than 150 disabled Malaysians staged a protest outside Parliament, mainly to express indignation at a government policy to impose limitations on a monthly welfare aid programme that they condemned as unfair and insensitive.

The protest, organised by the Independent Living and Training Centre Malaysia and supported by more than 50 NGOs, was held to send a memorandum to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob urging for the JKMPay programme to be abolished. 

Rina had launched the JKMPay last April with Bank Islam Malaysia as a strategic partner. 

Those eligible for the monetary assistance would receive a total of RM450 monthly from the government. However, the programme introduced a new system where only 50% of the allowance would be transferred into a recipient’s account directly. 

Meanwhile, the other half would be transferred into a JKMPay Cashless Card account and the recipient may only spend the money on basic necessities, daily appliances and medicine – but only at stores registered with Bank Islam. – The Vibes, March 3, 2022