STATE Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh has encouraged recipients of Single Mother and ‘Ibu Emas’ programmes to opt for payment through electronic fund transfer (EFT).
Phee said a total of 7,535 single mothers and 31,532 ‘Ibu Emas’ had already received the payment through EFT.
“The state government has decided to postpone the disbursement of cash payment for 4,170 single mothers and 17,644 ‘Ibu Emas’ (Phase 1 -Year 2020) due to the rise in the Covid-19 cases. It was scheduled to be held on Oct 24 and 25.
“The state government does not want to risk the public’s health and safety. That is why we (state government) are encouraging those who have yet to provide us with their bank account details to do so to facilitate the disbursement.
“Please update your account details before Nov 15 so that the payment can be made by the end of this year.
“Taking into consideration of the current situation, I would like to reassure the recipients that their money will not be burned,” Phee told a press conference at Komtar today.
Phee said the eligible recipients were notified yesterday via short messaging service (SMS) on the postponement of the cash payment as well as requesting them to update their bank account details.
“I would also like to urge those registered under the Senior Citizen Appreciation programme to update their bank account details to enable the state government with the disbursement of the aid.
“The EFT account forms can be obtained from state’s district and land offices as well as at the service centres of the state representatives,’’ added Phee.
Phee also said that since 2009 the state government has spent a total of RM369,430,701 for the i-Sejahtera programme which includes the payment for ‘Pelajar Emas’, Senior Citizen, Single Mother, ‘Anak Emas’, physically disabled, Funeral Expenses and Equitable Economic Agenda (AES)
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan