Phase 1 of cash aid to be stepped up, says Anwar

Payments of the first phase of People's Cash Aid will begin in January instead of March 2023, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said today.

He said the government had agreed to continue several of the aid initiatives announced in the 2023 budget, and in doing so, would increase the amount and make the payments at an earlier date.

"The Phase 1 payments involving an allocation of RM2 billion will benefit almost nine million recipients where RM300 will be disbursed to each household and RM100 to single recipients.

"I hope the early disbursement will help alleviate the burden currently faced by the people," he said when tabling the special allocation (mini budget) for service expenditure at the Dewan Rakyat sitting today.

The government will also continue giving the early schooling aid of RM150 to all pupils this January, regardless of their parents' income limit, in addition to social welfare assistance to poor households, the elderly and the disabled.

Meanwhile, to ensure the welfare of rubber smallholders during the monsoon season, the government plans to channel additional assistance of RM200 to the group this January.

"So far, the government has already disbursed the monsoon season aid for the months of November and December amounting RM600 to almost 320,000 rubber smallholders," Anwar said.

In another development, the government will examine plans to increase allocations for the management of disasters and floods following the flood situation seen as more severe than expected.

Anwar said RM400 million in allocations were earlier channelled to the National Disaster Management Agency for early preparedness initiatives in flood areas, assuring that additional financial resources will be provided when necessary.

He said various government agencies are already on standby with their machinery to help the people

The Consolidated Fund (Expenditure Into Account) Bill 2022 that provides for RM107.72 billion in civil service expenditure was passed without a debate.