PHASE 1 of the Special Covid-19 Assistance (BKC) will be paid out starting September 6, said Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

In a statement, the Prime Minister said the payments, which will be made from September 6-10, is expected to benefit 10 million Malaysians from the hardcore poor, B40 and M40 groups.

He said that the government has already channelled RM3.1 billion to various banks and financial institutions.

“I have been informed that the BKC payments should have been made in August but are late. As such, I have instructed the Finance Ministry to speed up the payments,” said Ismail.

On June 28, former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin had unveiled a RM150 billion Pemulih economic aid package to help Malaysians cope with the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The package, which has further easing of EPF withdrawal rules and a loan moratorium, included a RM10 billion cash assistance package to be paid out over several tranches in 2021.

The BKC will paid according to the following categories:

Hardcore poor households will receive assistance of RM500 in August, RM500 in November and RM300 in December

Single individuals in the hardcore poor category will receive assistance of RM200 in August and RM300 in November

B40 households will receive assistance of RM500 in August and RM300 in December while single B40 individuals will receive RM200 in August

M40 households will get assistance of RM250 while M40 singles will receive RM100 in August. – September 1, 2021.