First Covid-19 relief payout to come at end of April

CORONAVIRUS | As part of the RM250 billion economic stimulus package to help Malaysians face the Covid-19 pandemic, the first phase of the RM10 billion allocated for Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) will be paid out to eligible recipients at the end of April this year. 

“The payment of BPN will be made in two phases, at the end of April and May 2020,” the ministry said in a media statement issued today. 

In regard to the breakdown of the BPN payment for April and May, the ministry said households earning RM4,000 and below will receive a total of RM1,600 while households making between RM4,001 to RM8,000 will get RM1,000.

In relation to single individuals earning RM2,000 and below, they will receive RM800 in April and May, while single individuals making between RM2,001 and RM4,000 can get a total of RM500 in the payouts made in both months.

The ministry said payouts to eligible recipients, who are households making RM4,000 and below as well as single individuals earning RM2,000 and below, will be made directly to their bank accounts registered with Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH).

It said payouts to eligible recipients, who are households making between RM4,001 and RM8,000 as well as single individuals making between RM2,001 to RM4,000, will be made directly into their bank accounts registered with the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).

The ministry said for those who have yet to register, new applications can be made beginning April 1 this year through the official IRB portal.  

It also reminded the public to take precaution against scammers who are becoming emboldened to cheat the public in need of the Pakej Prihatin, and advised eligible recipients to refer to official sources (sumber-sumber rasmi) as well as to refrain sharing personal information with any third parties.

On Friday, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced an economic stimulus package totalling RM250 billion to help Malaysians face the Covid-19 pandemic and the after-effects of the movement control order.

Of the total, almost RM128 billion of the Pakej Rangsangan Ekonomi Prihatin Rakyat would be channelled to protect the people’s wellbeing, RM100 billion to support the business community, including small and medium enterprises (SME) and RM2 billion to further strengthen the country’s economy.

Previously, a sum of RM20 billion has already been allocated for stimulus package announced on Feb 27. 

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