For some rural folks, cash aid via ATM near impossible during MCO

CORONAVIRUS | Putrajaya, in a bid to help Malaysians cope with the economic downturn brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, unveiled the Bantuan Prihatin Nasional for low and middle-income households, but for some rural folks, getting their hands on the cash aid is proving a challenge.

For those living in the interiors of Sarawak, obtaining the cash aid of between RM500 to RM1,600 is not as simple as a 15-minute drive to the bank.

Some villages won't find an ATM machine even if they travel to their nearest town as there isn't one, said Sarawak PKR information chief Abun Sui Anyit.

"ATMs are unavailable in small towns like Sungai Asap and Pakan, the nearest town from the kampung or longhouses.

"It is therefore impossible for the supposed recipients of BPN to withdraw cash money to buy their daily food as MCO restrict movement between districts in Sarawak," he said in a statement today.

Abun Sui said community surveys showed that many qualified recipients have not received the cash aid.

"In Lawas, a community survey of over 100 B40 families revealed that over 52 percent of families had not yet received the BPN aid.

"In Bintulu, a survey of 850 B40 families revealed that over 60 percent of eligible recipients had not received BPN.

"In Belaga, a survey of 105 B40 families revealed that nearly 70 percent of had not yet received BPN," he said.

Abun Sui added that some in the rural community cannot afford the transportation cost to get to a bank.

As such, he calls on both the state and the federal government to trace the families and provide direct aid.

"Support Welfare Department teams to survey each district urgently and to assess vulnerable communities that most urgently need support with a focus on the elderly, disabled, single mothers and poor families with young children," he said, adding that they can also provide Covid-19 awareness.

Abun Sui also urged to do away with online registration for such communities to get the aid as they may not have internet access.

He said the governments should work with banks to provide withdrawal services during the MCO to rural folk.

Malaysia has been under a partial lockdown since March 18.

Under the MCO, all non-essential businesses and services were ordered closed and people cannot leave their homes except for approved reasons, such as buying groceries within a 10km radius.

The move, aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19, has brought a large part of the country's economy to a standstill.

As of noon today, Malaysia recorded 5,389 Covid-19 cases with 89 deaths.

Of those infected, 3,197 have recovered while another 2,103 are in treatment.

The MCO is scheduled to end on April 28 if it is not extended for the third time. - Mkini