MALAYSIANS will have to wait until the Budget 2023 is re-tabled tomorrow to know if the government plans to implement any new direct cash assistance in efforts to eradicate poverty, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said.

In the meantime, the government remained committed to ensure that direct cash aid will continue to be channelled to the target groups to meet the rising cost of living, he said in a written parliamentary reply.

He said this in response to a question from Zahari Hasan (Padang Rengas-PN), who wanted to know if the government will implement a basic income assistance scheme where households earning less than RM2,208 per month will receive some cash every month as part of an effort to eradicate poverty.

Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said the government was concerned about the welfare of every strata of society, especially the B40 group.

He said the government has introduced Rahmah Cash Contribution to ease the burden of the underprivileged.

The Tambun MP said through the scheme, as many as 8.7 million B40 recipients with a monthly income of below RM5,000 received the first phase of payment involving RM1.67 billion from January 17.

“In addition, apart from Rahmah Cash Contribution, the Social Welfare Department also provides a child assistance scheme of up to RM1,000 per month to poor families.

“The scheme includes those who earn below the poverty line income, which is RM1,169 per month,” he said.

Anwar said for the year 2022, the government has channeled RM8 billion for the implementation of direct cash assistance to 8.7 million recipients aimed at lifting the financial burden faced by the people post-pandemic. – February 23, 2023.