DO not crowd banks and ATMs to withdraw Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) aid, Ismail Sabri Yaakob urged the public today, the first day the payment is disbursed.

The senior minister told a daily press briefing on the Covid-19 situation that banks must enforce social distancing at all branches.

“Do not crowd the banks. You don’t have to do that. Starting today, there is no RM1 charge for withdrawals at all ATMs, so there is no need to go and crowd the banks.

“Banks, too, must make sure that there is a 1m distance (between customers). They must limit the number of people inside as well.”

Today’s BPN aid payment to B40 and M40 households amounts to RM5.63 billion. A second payout will be made at the end of next month.

Depending on their income level, households making a maximum of RM8,000 a month are eligible to receive up to RM1,600.

Single adults earning up to RM4,000 will get as much as RM800.

The BPN package also includes one-off aid for students, and a special allowance for healthcare workers and uniformed personnel enforcing the movement-control order to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

The payouts are under the government’s RM250 billion stimulus package to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic. – April 6, 2020.