KUALA LUMPUR – Budget 2021’s direct and indirect assistance for vulnerable groups will provide adequate relief for them to survive the economic uncertainty next year.
The Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR) cash aid, financial assistance for disabled groups and targeted loan repayments for B40 households, among others, will cushion financial anxiety, said Sunway University Business School economics Prof Yeah Kim Leng.
“There are also rehiring incentives, wage subsidies, upskilling and reskilling programmes, and several other social protection measures.
“All these measures will provide recipients with adequate relief to survive 2021 should the economic recovery falter,” he told Bernama.
When tabling the Budget on November 6, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz announced a RM6.5 billion allocation for BPR, which will benefit 8.1 million people, and RM2.2 billion to help disabled groups.
He also said the government will enhance its targeted loan repayment assistance, which will include additional repayment options for the B40 and M40, as well as micro, small and medium enterprises.
Yeah said given the extensive data collection and cash disbursement programmes implemented over the years, the government should have a comprehensive database on the needy and disadvantaged.
“An open and easily accessible window to register new recipients could be made available to cover those left behind, or those whose financial position unexpectedly worsens next year.”
He said more cash assistance for low-income households will be needed if the pandemic prolongs and economic recovery fails to materialise by the second half of 2021.
The Budget also lists incentives for Health Ministry frontliners, including a one-off RM500 payment and the continuation of their monthly RM600 allowance until the Covid-19 threat is contained.
Malaysian Medical Association president Prof Datuk Dr Subramaniam Muniandy said the one-off payment, to benefit some 100,000 frontliners, is a morale booster.
However, he added that it is “only momentary, as they (contract officers) are unsure if they will still have their jobs at the end of the day. Many of these frontliners are facing uncertainty about their employment, as a sizeable number of them are on contract”.
He said the RM1 billion allocation to contain the third virus wave is not certain to be sufficient.
“There should be greater transparency and accountability on the spending of this allocation, with a proper tender system and purchasing process in place to ensure control of the Budget and avoid wastage.” – Bernama, November 21, 2020
