Scramble at LHDN to meet STR deadline

 

Sea of people: Long lines of cash assistance applicants seen outside of the Johor Baru LHDN office.

JOHOR BARU: Dozens of people were seen making a beeline for the Johor Baru Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) here to meet the deadline for the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) application.

Although applications could also be made online, some said they faced difficulties submitting their applications and updating their data through the online system.

Forklift driver Muhd Akmal Kamal, 29, said he was unable to update his data because he had forgotten his password.

“I had applied for the cash assistance (previously known as Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia) about two years ago.

“My wife recently gave birth to our second child and I wanted to update my data.

“Unfortunately, I had forgotten my password and I was unable to get a new one, so I had no choice but to come here,” he told The Star yesterday.

Applications for Phase Two of the STR were opened on March 1 and close today (March 31).

Those who did not qualify for the cash aid or wanted to update their data would also have to reapply or update the data by the deadline.

Cashier Mira Bruin, 47, said she was disappointed when she was told to come back the following day after arriving at the office at 2pm.

“I wanted to apply on behalf of my son, who is 21 years old. I did not know how to apply online.

“I took half the day off and rushed here to make the deadline as government offices in Johor are closed on Friday and Saturday.

“Unfortunately, I was told that I had to come back as there were just too many people,” she said.

Guards manning the gate at the LHDN office here were seen handing out application forms and telling those still waiting to come back between 8am and 3pm today.

They said that the office will be open during those hours to assist with applications, despite it being a weekend in Johor. - Star