HAMIDAH Husin’s husband has not been paid since his furniture factory closed in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic and the movement control order (MCO).

As the MCO is ending its sixth week, the family of seven has had to survive on a total of RM2,000 in cash aid from the government’s Bantuan Prihatin Nasional scheme for low- and middle-income families.

She and nine other families The Malaysian Insight met recently said the aid they had received will not be enough beyond this week.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday announced that the MCO would be extended to May 12.

Before the MCO, Hamidah’s household had a combined income of about RM3,500 from her husband’s job and that of her son, a construction labourer.

 In mid-April, the 48-year-old housewife received RM1,000 from Prihatin and she is scheduled to get another RM600 in May. Her son also received the same amount.

“We really have to stretch the RM2,000 we’ve received in April. The next RM600 only comes in May,” said the housewife when met at her low-cost flat in Puchong, Selangor.

“We’ve cut back on our food expenses so we have enough for rent and utilities. We don’t have any income since the MCO started.”

She doesn’t think the rest of the aid she is scheduled to receive will be enough since the MCO is extended.

“I can’t imagine what we will do.”

The MCO was enforced since March 18 to break the transmission of the coronavirus.

The virus has as of yesterday infected 5,603 and killed 95.

In its RM260 billion stimulus package, the Perikatan Nasional government earmarked more than RM10 billion for direct cash transfers under its umbrella Prihatin scheme.

Households earning less than RM4,000 per month will receive RM1,000 in April and RM600 in May. Those with an income of between RM4,000 and RM8,000 will receive RM500 in April and RM500 next month.

These payouts are expected to reach 5.1 million households.

In addition, about three million unmarried people earning below RM2,000 per month will receive RM800 each while those earning between RM2,000 and RM4,000 will get RM500.

Eating less to survive

The Prihatin money provided temporary relief to the 10 cash-strapped, low-income families The Malaysian Insight met in Selangor, Sarawak and Penang.

Seven out of 10 families said they have lost their income after the MCO was enforced, either because they were daily wage earners or their companies put them on unpaid leave, like Hamidah’s husband.

Out of the seven, five are non-agriculture informal sector workers who earned a daily wage.

The five in the informal sector were either freelancers or owned micro-businesses that were not registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia or the Inland Revenue board.

Although he was a formal sector worker, Hamidah’s husband, was put on unpaid leave.

The family of Bayoh Lebong in Lubok Antu, Sarawak, used to earn a living from cultivating oil palm and pepper but that has also been disrupted by the MCO.

Only two households, both in Selangor, had breadwinners who still brought in an income.

But of the two, Shahara Nor Mohd, had her pay reduced as her factory was only allowed to operate at 50% capacity under the MCO.

Out the 10 households, only one, Yusrizal Mohd Nor’s had their incomes untouched. He was granted paid leave while his wife’s factory, which manufactures medicines, is able to operate as normal.

All of the households said the aid has been used on rent, utilities and food, the last of which they’ve had to cut down to make ends meet.

Hasan Sidek of Bukit Mertajam, Penang had used up much of the Prihatin money he received on his wife who fell ill and could not walk just before the MCO started.

“When I received the RM1,000, I spent RM250 on a wheelchair for her and RM200 for another chair to use in the bathroom. We also had to get a new rice cooker to help me cook.”

Sixty-two-year-old Hasan’s daily income from his rice stall has completely stopped after the MCO started.

He does not think that the RM600 he is due to receive in May will be enough to cover his expenses.

Meanwhile, Surenthra Krishnanairu has had to slash his family’s weekly grocery bill from RM500 to RM200 since they lost their source of income due to the MCO.

Surenthra and his youngest son are independent cleaners in the informal sector.

“I’ve applied for Prihatin but haven’t received it yet. Thankfully my eldest son is still able to earn some money as a food delivery boy, so that is the only income we have.”

No aid in sight

V. Kabilan, who coordinates food donations for the Puchong Perdana flats where Surenthra lives, said 90% of its 1,200 households need extra grocery donations to survive.

“Almost all of the households here had their incomes affected. The worst off are the foreign migrant workers who make up 50% of the flat residents,” said Kabilan, who works with the MIC to distribute aid.

“The foreigners earn a daily wage, so no work, no income. They are starving but too afraid to come out of their houses for fear of being arrested.”

Kabilan said he has given out rice, canned food and vegetables donated by senator T. Mohan, civil society group Community and Environment Development Association (HANDS) and motorcycle club Rising Bikers.

The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) said at best, Prihatin was a short-term measure to help low- and middle-income folk survive the crisis.

“What the government also needs to do is ensure food and household supplies are consistent and sufficient, and that there is no hoarding and price-gouging by traders,” said Fomca secretary-general Paul Selvaraj.

Putrajaya also need to reach as many people in the informal sector who are not in government database and who cannot receive aid even though they qualify, he said.

These include between 1.23 million and 1.46 million undocumented foreign workers in Malaysia.

“These are people outside the formal system who are not registered to receive aid. Although NGOs do the best that they can, they cannot reach everyone. The government must do better at reaching as many people as possible.” – April 24, 2020.