Cash payment to senior citizens delayed

Penangites queuing up to collect their aid under the Senior Citizens’ Appreciation Programme. The postponement will affect 157,335 applicants. — Filepic

CASH payment under the Senior Citizens’ Appreciation Programme in Penang will be postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

State welfare and caring society committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said the move would affect 157,335 applicants who had previously been collecting their dues in their state constituencies.

The remaining 34,523 applicants who had signed up using the electronic fund transfer (EFT) option will not be affected.

He said money due to the latter group had been deposited into their bank accounts on Feb 17.

Phee urged eligible senior citizens who had yet to apply for the EFT to do so immediately.

“Please sign up for the EFT option so you can receive your payment early.

“EFT account forms are available at all five state district and land offices as well as the offices of state representatives and their service centres.

“The deadline for EFT registration is June 30, ” said Phee at a press conference in Komtar on Thursday.

Those born in 1960 and earlier are eligible for the Senior Citizens’ Appreciation Programme. They will receive RM150.

To date, a total of 191,858 eligible applicants have registered for it.

Phee said the decision to postpone the cash payouts was made during the exco meeting on Wednesday following advice from the state Health Department.

“We decided to delay the payment of part of the first phase of the Senior Citizens’ Appreciation Programme for this year as it is not advisable for people to gather and wait for a long time during the outbreak.

“In the past, we found many senior citizens would arrive three or four hours before the scheduled payout.

“During the exco meeting, we were briefed that if there are more than 100 people attending an event, a study has to be conducted on the safety of the participants.

“We have to practise risk management and see how we can avoid close human contact.”

Phee added that eligible recipients would receive a short messaging service (SMS) on the matter via SMS blast.

“Staff at the representatives’ service centres will also try to trace applicants who have not given complete information such as their contact details.

“Meanwhile, we managed to hand out cash payment only to those in the Batu Uban and Pinang Tunggal constituencies.

“The cash payout scheduled for Datok Keramat, Sungai Dua and Berapit between March 21 and March 23, and for Permatang Berangan (March 13 and 14) is postponed along with the payout for rest of the constituencies, ” he said. - Star