PUTRAJAYA will provide an additional RM100 annually to every unmarried person registered as a recipient of the living cost assistance or Bantuan Sara Hidup programme, said Lim Guan Eng.

The finance minister said in a statement today that the payment will benefit three million recipients, involving RM300 million.

“The payments will be made by the end of March and will be transferred into the recipients’ bank accounts,” he said, as Putrajaya ramps up efforts to help those in the B40 group cope with the cost of living.  

Lim said the decision was made after a request by Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to assist lower-income single youth.  

“As a result of these recommendations and to fulfill the aspiration of a people’s government, the Finance Ministry will, as a start, make payments of RM100 to each individual registered as unmarried in the BSH 2018 database,” Lim said.

Muhyiddin told reporters in Semenyih last night that extending BSH aid to youth was among the issues raised with the cabinet after the 1Malaysia People’s Aid programme was cancelled.

“I asked Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng to review this again so that jobless youth can receive aid,” Muhyiddin told a ceramah last night while campaigning in the Semenyih by-election.

Muhyiddin, who is also home minister, said he had met with Lim over the financial assistance scheme which had been discontinued for singles under Budget 2019.

Previously, single individuals above 21 years old and earning less than RM2,000 a month could receive cash handouts of RM450, before the category for singles was abolished.

Further information can be obtained at the toll-free number 1-800-88-2747 or [email protected]

As of January 28, BSH payments of RM300 were made to low-income households registered in the previous BR1M programme.

Last month, Lim said the first phase of BSH assistance is expected to benefit up to 4.1 million households involving an allocation of RM1.2 billion.

Last year, under the previous Barisan Nasional government, the Finance Ministry approved 7.08 million applications for BR1M 2018, involving RM6.12 billion. – February 19, 2019.