KUCHING: Several local residents have expressed their support to Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR) 3.0, through the Supplementary Strategic Programme to Empower the People and Economy (Pemerkasa Plus), with an allocation of RM1.2 billion.
Pemerkasa Plus was announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on May 31 as an initiative to help the people affected by Covid-19 pandemic.
The Prime Minister announced that households earning below RM2,500 would receive an additional BPR rate of RM500 and households earning between RM2,501 to RM5,000 will get RM300.
Apart from that, RM100 additional rate will be given to singles and single parents with no children aged 60 and above with an income of RM5,000 and below.
Noor Salfina Hasmawi, 23, expressed her support for BPR 3.0 as it will help her with her daily expenses.
“I have been one of the eligible receivers from the Single category since the BPR assistance was originally announced at the start of the movement control order (MCO) in 2020.”
“Thank you to the government for always seeking to help those who are having financial challenges and have lost their source of income as a result of this pandemic situation,” said Salfina, a self-employed Satok resident.
Meanwhile, Muhamad Ikhtiari Ibrahim, 29, said he was relieved when the government announced the Geran Khas Prihatin (GKP) 3.0 assistance for traders.
GKP 3.0 is a Pemerkasa Plus programme designed to assist affected traders with business continuity following the implementation of MCO 3.0 during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
“With the help of GKP 3.0, I can make a round of capital for food sales because, without a doubt, the profit from food sales is fairly uncertain, thus the assistance of government aid money has facilitated my family’s livelihood,” said Ikhtiari, owner of MIKH Enterprise.
“So far, RM 1,000 has been deposited into the account this month (June), and the remaining RM500 will be deposited next July,” Ikhtiari said.
The government has also extended the BPR appeal application period from June 15 to June 30 to assist those who did not pass in the previous application.
