THE government will consider increasing the Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia (BKM) aid should the need arise.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the government will monitor the economic situation and the prices of goods, adding any decision to increase aid will be made based on their findings.

“We will look at the circumstances (when mulling whether to raise aid). If there is a need for more aid, we will but if the prices of goods are stable, we will not give it,” the prime minister said during question-and-answer time in Parliament today.

Ismail was responding to opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim (Port Dickson-PH), who asked about government measures taken to address skyrocketing living costs and prices of goods.

Ismail said the government is considering more handouts because it is unable to subsidise the prices of food and goods..

“We cannot subsidise every item that increases in price.

“For example, if the price of onions increase tomorrow, we cannot subsidise onions. So we give cash,” he said.

The Umno lawmaker said a low-income earner in the B40 group could get up to RM2,600 in BKM aid.

“For now the maximum the B40 household will get is RM2,600 per year.

“I just announced that in phase 2 (of BKM aid) we will increase the amount from RM400 to RM500,” he said.

On June 22, Ismail announced additional cash assistance of RM100 per household and RM50 per single person.

BKM is expected to benefit some 12.6 million people, or 60% of adults.

The BKM cash assistance is the largest-ever aid programme with an allocation of RM8 billion. – July 18, 2022.