Budget 2024: Rate of Rahmah cash aid increased, says PM


KUALA LUMPUR: The maximum rate for Rahmah cash aid will be raised to RM3,700 next year from the previous RM3,100, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said the minimum rate of aid for youths will also be increased from RM350 to RM500.

He said the allocation, which benefits nine million recipients, or 60%, of the country's adult population, has been increased by RM2bil, or 25%, from RM8bil to RM10bil.

"The first payment of Rahmah cash aid for households, which is normally a maximum of RM300, will be increased to RM500 next year. It will be distributed before Ramadan.

"Next year, the cash aid will also take a different approach, whereby new applications can be made as early as November this year and will be open throughout the year, instead of once a year as before.

"The first disbursement of up to RM500 will be made in February next year," he said when tabling Budget 2024 in Dewan Rakyat on Friday (Oct 13).

Anwar said the funds are part of the RM58.1bil allocated for various forms of government grants to the people, including subsidies, incentives and assistance.

"Restructuring subsidies will enable the government to improve the distribution of cash to the people," he said.

The Prime Minister said the government has also decided to expand the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah from 200,000 to 700,000 aid recipients and extend the disbursement period from RM100 per month to 12 months, compared to six months previously.

According to Anwar, the government has also allocated RM200 million to continue the implementation of Payung Rahmah, including the implementation of Rahmah Sales and Pasar Rahmah, which provide incentives to 1.2 million wholesale market, pasar malam and pasar tani operators.

"RM225mil ringgit will also be allocated to fund the cost of distributing basic commodities such as petrol, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), flour, rice and cooking oil in rural areas under the Community Drumming Programme.

"This programme will be extended to new areas, including Abai, Sandakan, Sabah and Engkerebai, Mukah zones in Sarawak," he said. - Bernama

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Anwar , Madani , Budget , 2024 , STR , SARA

   

Next In Nation

Kelantan to update conditions for cinemas in the state
Tenggara Bersatu division chief, committee members exit party
Tragic end for woman during Deepavali picnic at Sungai Sedim
Ukraine sees Malaysia as Asean gateway for UAV partnerships
Eight missing after fishing trip found safe in Sarawak, says cop
Customs Department denies that DG Anis Rizana misused allocation for vacation
Malaysian Media Council needs to be established immediately
Eighteen-year-old dies after electrocution on express bus in Butterworth
Lowest starting salary on SPA website to be updated in December
Stricter laws to tackle cyberbullying be tabled at the coming Parliament sitting

Others Also Read