New poverty threshold not used for aid during pandemic as it would cost govt RM3bil, says deputy minister

PETALING JAYA: Welfare aid distributed throughout the Covid-19 pandemic was based on the RM980 poverty threshold because the latest poverty line indicator of RM2,208 would cost the government more than RM3bil in allocations, says Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff.

"We are still using the old poverty line because we have discussed and seen how the financial burden would weigh heavily on the government.