KUCHING: The state government has approved RM92 million to provide financial aid to 120,000 persons under Sarawakku Sayang Special Assistance (BKSS) as they were unintentionally not given the aid in earlier phases of disbursement.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg explained that these individuals in the low income (B40) group had not received the financial aid as they were not listed in the Inland Revenue Board’s (IRB) list.
He said these individuals then appealed for the financial aid as they should have received it, amounting to 120,000 appeals.
“All this has been resolved and today, we have a symbolic ceremony to provide financial aid to those who had been left out from the list before.
“This means that all Sarawakians have received aid during the Covid-19 pandemic and we also have provided other measures such as reduced rent, moratorium, and so on, which we will continue,” he said when officiating at the BKSS Financial Aid Symbolic Handing Over Ceremony at Majma Mall here today.
He said payment to individuals who had successfully appealed would be made this month and some would receive the financial aid via their SarawakPay account.
Abang Johari said a total of RM2.55 billion had been allocated by the state government for BKSS packages aimed at easing the strain faced by the people due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The government has tried its best to ease the financial burden faced by the people during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The state government sees this situation as a matter in which we must help because many of our people’s lives are affected,” he said.
Also present were Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian; Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah; Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Law, State-Federal Relationship and Project Monitoring) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali; Deputy State Secretary (Socio-Economic Transformation) Datuk Seri Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki; and other representatives.
