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RM6 million in Penang cash aid going unclaimed

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33,288 people are eligible for the RM200 or RM100 aid but electronic payments had bounced because of wrong bank details.

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Free Malaysia Today
State executive councillor Phee Boon Poh said aid payments to 33,288 people had bounced. (Facebook pic)

GEORGE TOWN:
More than RM6 million in state government cash aid for senior citizens, single mothers and housewives has yet to be claimed.

State executive councillor Phee Boon Poh said 33,288 people were eligible for the aid but electronic transfer of the money had bounced because of wrong bank account numbers, or accounts that were closed or dormant.

The aid was previously given in cash via the service centres of state assemblymen, but the state government switched to electronic fund transfers in 2020 because of the Covid-19 lockdown.

Phee said repeated attempts had been made to inform recipients through phone calls, texts, and via social media.

“We are now giving these recipients a week until April 7 to update their bank accounts online or at the nearest state assemblyman’s office.

“Those who have not received their dues in 2020 and 2021 can make an appeal and we will consider paying the aid for those two years,” he said. “If these recipients do not update their details, we will not carry forward the unclaimed money from previous years and we will remove them permanently from the list.”

Phee said that a total of nearly RM49 million was paid out earlier this year to 230,062 eligible recipients under Penang’s i-Sejahtera programme.

He said that 28,474 senior citizens have yet to claim the RM200 aid this year, while 3,802 housewives and 1,012 single mothers have yet to claim their RM100 grant.

The programme is an annual cash aid to seniors, the disabled, single mothers, and children below the age of two. Recipients or guardians must be registered voters in Penang.

Those eligible can update their details or register for the programme at https://isejahtera.penang.gov.my/

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