Asajaya first to disburse BR1M aid

January 22, 2012

KUCHING: Asajaya became the first in the state to disburse RM270,000 in BR1M aid to 540 recipients at the Asajaya Sports Complex yesterday.

Maybank Berhad was on hand to process the vouchers and give out the RM500 cash to the first and second phase recipients.

“The third phase will receive their money after the Chinese New Year,” said Asajaya state assemblyman Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah when handing out the vouchers to the recipients.

The remaining 5,101 people would receive their money in due time.

“We will stagger the disbursement of the money as it involves a huge amount of recipients,” said Abdul Karim, who is also Assistant Minister of Youth Development and Housing.

According to him, the majority of the recipients were fishermen and farmers.

“For the BR1M, the government has allocated RM3 billion to be disbursed to the rakyat who need a financial boost,” he said.

He said the BR1M aid was proof the Malaysian government is financially strong.

Abdul Karim said students were also given the RM100 aid and their school and exam fees waived.

Among the criteria to be eligible for the BR1M aid were those earning less than RM3,000 a month, single parent or a family member is permanent disabled (OKU).

He said the people should consider investing in Saham 1Malaysia as the returns would instill the saving habit.

“By investing RM5,000 the monthly return would be around RM130.”

The criterion to buy Saham 1Malaysia was any individual who does not have any investment in the Amanah Saham Bumiputera or Amanah Saham Nasional, he said.

Among yesterday’s recipients was Landuk Taibak, 80, from Kampung Iboi Ulu, Sadong Jaya who came with his grandaughter Siti Noor Suhada, 20, to receive the aid.

“I am grateful for the aid as this will ease our burden a bit,” said Siti. It will be used to buy food and medications for her grandfather and to hire people to take care of him during busy occasions.

Meanwhile in Petra Jaya, the first phase of the BR1M distribution to residents will be implemented on Jan 28.

“There are approximately 11,000 residents who qualify for this scheme. We are finalising their details,” said Petra Jaya MP Datuk Fadillah Yusuf at the launch of ‘Bantuan Persekolahan Peringkat Negeri Sarawak 2012’ cum Dewan Tupong handover ceremony at Petra Jaya yesterday. It was officiated by Assistant Minister for Islamic Affairs Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman.

“We appeal to applicants to be patient as the BR1M aid will be carried out as soon as possible,” Fadillah said.

The Science, Technology and Innovation Minister advised those eligible to apply for the Skim Amanah Rakyat (Sara) 1Malaysia programme managed by Permodalan Nasional Berhad, so those with a monthly household income of RM3,000 and below could exercise options to invest and allow their money to grow within five years.

“Low-income groups who qualify can opt for a loan of up to RM5,000 to invest and they can pay the amount back by installment,” he said of the scheme, which commences on Feb 1.