Fact-check: Govt 'early Ramadan RM500 aid' doesn't exist

 

In the lead-up to Ramadan, which starts today, information has been spreading on the internet claiming the government is giving a one-off RM500 “bantuan awal Ramadan” (early Ramadan aid).

However, checks by fact-checking outfit MyCheck found that the information is false and that a fake poster claiming this first went viral last year.

This time, the false information was published by the website Portalinfo.my, on March 2, along with a poster featuring Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

The website claims the one-off welfare aid is open to applicants who are Muslims and have lived in the federal territories for at least one year, who apply through the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) website.

However, MyCheck found the aid disbursed by MAIWP in conjunction with Ramadan is meant for those already on the Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH) welfare scheme, and not a new scheme open to all.

The aid disbursed by MAIWP is also credited directly into the bank accounts of BSH recipients and does not require additional applications.

Portalinfo.my was also found to be not credible, while a check through a phishing link checker found that the website is deemed “suspicious”.

The same poster published by the website was also circulating in 2023 on social media pages of similar websites, said to be publishing information about government aid and civil service vacancies.

MyCheck found that websites and social media pages spreading this false information use it as clickbait as a means to attract readers to their website or social media channels, so they can gain advertising revenue.

Another old poster on Madani govt aid

The poster is not the only false information about government aid circulating on social media.

Another one titled “Tarikh penting menjelang 1 Syawal” (Important dates for the impending Syawal) shows a list of incoming government welfare aid to various groups.

Syawal is the month following Ramadan in the Islamic calendar, Hari Raya Aidilfitri is celebrated on 1 Syawal.

However, the poster which is circulating widely on WhatsApp now is a list of aid disbursed last year and is believed to be from 2023.

For example, the poster states that a one-off aid for People’s Volunteer Corp members was announced on March 29, but the poster started circulating in the first weeks of March.

Malaysiakini’s checks found Anwar announced the aid to Rela members on March 29, 2023, as a supplement to Budget 2023.

Although state governments like Penang and Sabah have announced Raya aid for civil servants, the federal government has not made any such announcements this year.

Last week, the Congress of Union of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) issued a statement encouraging the government to extend Raya aid to civil servants and pensioners this year.

“We are thankful for the Early Incentive Payment of RM2,000 for new civil servants made recently, which helps civil servants prepare for children returning to school, Ramadan, and Hari Raya.

“But if the government sees the need to give extra festivity aid, as they do every year without fail, maybe this tradition should be continued. Cuepacs would welcome this but is not demanding that it happen,” Cuepacs president Adnan Mat said. - Mkini

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Malaysiakini and MyCheck are part of JomCheck, a fact-checking alliance.

Through JomCheck, Malaysians can submit requests to fact-check a claim by sending a WhatsApp message to the tipline at 017-477 6659 (WhatsApp text only, no calls) or via this link.