PETALING JAYA: Families struggling to make ends meet are grateful for the additional financial assistance provided in Budget 2021, but some feel that more can be done to help those whose livelihoods have been impacted by the pandemic.
“We’re grateful for the increase in financial aid for our five children. It’s definitely helpful and much needed, especially at a time like this,” said Mohd Farmi Mohd Faizal, 40, who runs a food stall with his wife Fadilah Ismail, 38.
Business has been poor even though they are allowed to open under the recovery and conditional movement control order (MCO).
However, they are also still reeling from the loss of not being able to open during the first phase of the MCO.
“There are so many (Covid-19) cases now that people are opting to prepare their own food at home instead of eating out or having takeaways. We’re also worried about opening the stall,” added Fadilah, whose children are aged between nine and 17 years old.
In the Budget, allowance for children from poor families has been increased from RM100 per child, for a maximum of RM450 per family, to RM150 per child aged seven to 18 years old, or RM200 per child aged six and below, for a maximum of RM1,000 per family.
Allowances (Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat) are also given for households that earn between RM2,501 and RM4,000.
For households with one child, RM800 is provided, and for those with two or more children, RM1,200.
“The additional allowance for the elderly is also extremely helpful for us,” said Farmi, who looks after his mother.
Under the Budget, the allowance for senior citizens, disabled persons and patients suffering from chronic diseases have been increased from RM350 to RM500.
Housewife Roslinda Saalan, 45, and her technician husband Jamal Mat, 48, are grateful that the Budget helps ease their children’s educational needs.
But the couple feel that in the city, there are also many M40 families who are struggling, not just the B40 families.
“There are M40 families in the city who have many schoolgoing children. Some of them also lost their income during the pandemic,” Roslinda said.
Lorry driver A. Maniam, 53, and his wife Rathiga Balamurugan, 46, a housewife, are pleased with the Budget’s Internet allowance as he needs it for his children’s online classes.
“We’re grateful for the additional financial aid because our three younger children are still studying.
“The allowance for our two older working-age children is also helpful as things are so uncertain now,” said Maniam, a father of five kids aged between 15 and 25 years old.
Under the Budget, singles who earn less than RM2,500 and are aged 21 and above will receive financial assistance of RM350.
The Budget has allocated RM1.5bil towards Internet assistance in the form of RM180 Internet credit for eight million B40 individuals.
“We’re grateful for the increase in financial aid for our five children. It’s definitely helpful and much needed, especially at a time like this,” said Mohd Farmi Mohd Faizal, 40, who runs a food stall with his wife Fadilah Ismail, 38.
Business has been poor even though they are allowed to open under the recovery and conditional movement control order (MCO).
However, they are also still reeling from the loss of not being able to open during the first phase of the MCO.
“There are so many (Covid-19) cases now that people are opting to prepare their own food at home instead of eating out or having takeaways. We’re also worried about opening the stall,” added Fadilah, whose children are aged between nine and 17 years old.
In the Budget, allowance for children from poor families has been increased from RM100 per child, for a maximum of RM450 per family, to RM150 per child aged seven to 18 years old, or RM200 per child aged six and below, for a maximum of RM1,000 per family.
Allowances (Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat) are also given for households that earn between RM2,501 and RM4,000.
For households with one child, RM800 is provided, and for those with two or more children, RM1,200.
“The additional allowance for the elderly is also extremely helpful for us,” said Farmi, who looks after his mother.
Under the Budget, the allowance for senior citizens, disabled persons and patients suffering from chronic diseases have been increased from RM350 to RM500.
Housewife Roslinda Saalan, 45, and her technician husband Jamal Mat, 48, are grateful that the Budget helps ease their children’s educational needs.
But the couple feel that in the city, there are also many M40 families who are struggling, not just the B40 families.
“There are M40 families in the city who have many schoolgoing children. Some of them also lost their income during the pandemic,” Roslinda said.
Lorry driver A. Maniam, 53, and his wife Rathiga Balamurugan, 46, a housewife, are pleased with the Budget’s Internet allowance as he needs it for his children’s online classes.
“We’re grateful for the additional financial aid because our three younger children are still studying.
“The allowance for our two older working-age children is also helpful as things are so uncertain now,” said Maniam, a father of five kids aged between 15 and 25 years old.
Under the Budget, singles who earn less than RM2,500 and are aged 21 and above will receive financial assistance of RM350.
The Budget has allocated RM1.5bil towards Internet assistance in the form of RM180 Internet credit for eight million B40 individuals.
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