SIBU: Hundreds of people flocked to Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) Sibu at Kampung Nyabor Road here to cash their Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) vouchers yesterday after receiving incorrect information from social sites that the vouchers had to be redeemed within two days.
The presence of the huge crowd raised the concerns of Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting Ing Horh who asked the police here to monitor the area.
“I was informed by my SMC councillors who were monitoring the implementation of the movement control order (MCO) in the city that many people were queuing up for over 100 metres around the bank as early as 6am.
“Sibu district police chief ACP Stanley Jonathan Ringgit told me that the people had received incorrect information from social sites,” he said, clarifying that the vouchers were actually valid until the end of the year.
Ting said many who were eligible and did not have accounts at BSN had rushed to the bank.
“I advise the people of Sibu not to rush to redeem the voucher as it is still valid for a long time. If possible, give the opportunity to those who are far away, especially from small districts like Selangau or nearby districts which do not have BSN yet,” he said.
Ting said the police urged the people to return home or disperse to prevent the risk of contracting Covid-19.
He commended the police as well as the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) for successfully controlling the situation.
Police also advised those from Sibu to go home and redeem their vouchers another day.
According to a source from BSN, the bank opened all its counters for this purpose. However, only 300 people per day can cash their vouchers. The source added the vouchers were valid until December 31.
