NEARLY 200,000 disabled persons (OKU) have benefited from an allocation of RM25 million through the Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package (Prihatin) announced by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin last March, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff said they were the 87,910 recipients of Disabled Workers Allowance (EPC), 75,722 recipients of financial assistance for OKUs incapable of work and 26,368 recipients of financial assistance for the carers of the bed-ridden and chronically ill.

“In phase 1, an allocation worth RM185,770 has been utilised for the target group. The remaining RM1.92 million will be paid to them by August 31,” she said during the question-and-answer session at the Dewan Rakyat today.

She was responding to a supplementary question from Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik (PH-Balik Pulau) who wanted to know the number of Prihatin aid recipients targeted in the vulnerable group due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The government also provides food basket aid and has introduced special incentives in the form of special assistance through the National Economic Recovery Plan which also benefits the OKUs,” she said.

Siti Zailah said as of August 5, a total of 185,770 OKUs received special assistance amounting to RM55.7 million. – Bernama, August 6, 2020.