KUALA LUMPUR – The cash aid known as Bantuan Tunai Rakyat (BTR) will be paid out in January instead of March, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The aid will be in the form of RM300 and RM100 for eligible households and singles, respectively.
Anwar (Tambun-PH) said in the Dewan Rakyat today that the aid will benefit some nine million recipients with an expenditure of RM2 billion.
He also announced RM150 in early school aid, which will be given to all students next year without a condition on household incomes.
“There is no condition set on incomes as this will delay the disbursement of funds.”
He said the government will proceed with the previous proposal for civil servants from Grade 11 to Grade 56 to enjoy an RM100 salary increment starting next year. This will benefit some 1.3 million civil servants.
Meanwhile, a special one-off cash aid of RM700 will be provided to those in Grade 56 and below while pensioners will receive RM350.
In terms of job creation, Anwar announced 50,000 new jobs for youth, including 35,000 through the MyStep programme.
Salaries for these jobs will range between RM1,500 and RM2,100. – The Vibes, December 20, 2022