'No problem' stopping JKMPay if not helpful - dep minister

 

PARLIAMENT | There is no problem stopping the Social Welfare Department (JKM)’s Cashless Assistance Payment (JKMPay), Siti Zailah Yusoff said.

The women, family, and community development deputy minister said this is if the pilot project is found not to be beneficial.

Siti Zailah (above) said since the project, which involves new recipients, was still in the pilot stage, the ministry will await the findings of a study in April before deciding whether to continue it.

“This issue cropped up when we received complaints, including some who said the aid we channelled to them was misused by their families.

“We also received positive responses and in the studies we conducted, the majority said they have no problems, but we are still at the pilot and study stage.

“If the project is not beneficial, no problem. We can take it back and return to the normal mode of payment (cash) because this is only a pilot project and we expect to evaluate all complaints and views until April,” she said.

Siti Zailah was speaking in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

The initiative was not aimed at restricting the rights of persons with disabilities to spend, she stressed, but to help the group carry out cashless payments.

Siti Zailah said 397 shops were approved to be involved in the pilot project as of February and 250 outlets had applied and were keen to register under JKMPay.

Federal Territories Minister Shahidan Kassim

Meanwhile, also in the Dewan Rakyat, Federal Territories Minister Shahidan Kassim said Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had identified five locations for the construction of 5,000 council houses.

Shahidan said one of the locations is Sungai Udang, involving 897 units that are expected to be fully completed next month.

Four others which are still in the planning stage, he said, are in Desa Tasik (1,000 units), Jalan Selimang (702), Jalan Tasik Permaisuri (204), and Bandar Baru Sentul (168).

“The main aim of the development of the council homes is to help the B40 group as a transit before they can afford to own their own houses as there is a limited number of People’s Housing Project (PPR) units that can be offered.

“It is also to help low-income city folks to rent houses,” Shahidan added.

On the issue raised by Lim Lip Eng (Pakatan Harapan-Kepong) on the need for DBKL to conduct a census or investigation on PPR tenants, he said it was always conducted as tenants are directed to update their income details from time to time.

Shahidan said DBKL was also conducting a Public Housing or PPR Rental Extension Period programme, which is subject to the information on income furnished by the tenants.

- Bernama