B40 FAMILIES have welcomed the RM2,000 aid promised to them under Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia (BKM) in Budget 2022, which was tabled in October.

They told The Malaysian Insight that they need the handout to make ends meet, adding that they are in dire need of cash to cover daily expenses and pay bills.

Haresh Kumar, 46, said the RM2,000 will help to pay bills.

“I usually get paid per trip or so. But I did not get many jobs throughout this year, which is why the aid will help me a lot,” said the lorry driver from Klang, Selangor

“My daughter will enter secondary school next year, so I will use it buy new uniforms for her.”

He said the aid will also be used to pay rent, which has been delayed for the past two months.

He hopes the money will come in early next year, so he can use it for daily necessities.

Zalaha Yusof, 53, said the RM2,000 will help her pay off hospital bills.

“I am diabetic so I visit the hospital quite often to buy medicine. With this aid, I can afford it,” said the retiree, who lives with her three sisters in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur.

“Sometimes I will take a taxi to hospital as I do not have any transport. This aid will help pay my transport fees, too.”

Chong Kah Yen, 43, said the handout will help fund her three children’s education.

“Although schools have reopened, I am worried that they may close again. I will use the money to pay for Wi-Fi.

“I can also buy a laptop for my eldest child, who is currently using a laptop borrowed from my company.”

Chong, who lives in PPR Seri Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, said since she is a single mother, she can also use the additional RM500 allocated for single parents to buy ink for her printer.

“At times, my kids will want to print notes for their studies, but printer ink can be pricey, so I am grateful for the help offered.”

In October, Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz introduced the RM2,000 BKM aid for low-income families, with an additional RM500 for eligible single parents.

“This means that a single mother or father with three or more children is eligible for a maximum aid of RM2,500 – the highest one-off aid payment for households by the government,” he said when tabling Budget 2022.

Overall, 9.6 million recipients qualify for the RM8.2 billion package. – December 17, 2021.