KUALA LUMPUR: Assistance ranging from the distribution of essential goods, controlling the prices of petrol and cooking oil as well as electricity bill discounts and free internet data are among the aid given out under the Pakej Perlindungan Rakyat dan Pemulihan Ekonomi or Pemulih to ease their struggles during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, announcing the details of the financial assistance package today, said members of parliament from both sides of the divide will receive an additional RM300,000 each to conduct a food basket aid programme, where essential goods will be distributed to their affected constituents.
"Essential daily goods are important for those in need amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
"I have taken the stance of putting aside our political differences in terms of delivering aid to the people.
"Whether you are a government or opposition member of parliament, we must collectively shoulder the responsibility to assist the people who are facing tough times.
"Use this allocation the best you can to help the people in your parliamentary constituencies. Apart from that, RM10 million is also set aside to assist the Orang Asli through the Bantuan Bakul Makanan effort," he said during his telvised speech this evening.
The government, he said, remains committed to helping the people ease the cost of living and will continue its move to control the prices of essential goods.
He said despite the rise in commodity prices at the global level, the retail prices of RON95, diesel and LPG fuel will be maintained, involving subsidies of over RM6 billion this year.
"The government will also implement the Price Control programme to address the price issue of one to five kilogramme cooking oil. This programme will be conducted based on the threshold value of crude palm oil where the prices of five kilogramme cooking oil can be controlled and would not be over RM30 a bottle.
"To guarantee the supply of one kilogramme polybag cooking oil, there will be an additional fund of RM1 billion where the people can still buy it at a subsidised price of RM2.50," he said.
To ease the financial expenses of the people, Muhyiddin said there will be an electricity bill discount of five to 40 per cent which takes effect for three months from July this year.
This, he said, amounts to a collective value of RM346 million.
"Affected economic sectors, especially hotel operators, theme parks, convention centres, shopping malls, local tourism company offices as well as travel and tour agencies will enjoy an extended three month electricity bill discount from Oct until Dec this year.
"The discounts for domestic and non-domestic users of up to RM 1 billion will be borne by the government," he said.
Muhyiddin said the country's leading telecommunication service providers have agreed to extend the 1GB daily internet data until Dec 31 this year which will benefit 44 million registered customers at a cost of RM500 million.
He said the government will also offer an allocation of RM18 million to local banks to provide 30 mobile banking services in the Peninsular, Sabah and Sarawak.
The services, he said, will span 250 areas and sub-districts in the rural areas.
"Through this initiative, one can access various banking services including opening of accounts, savings, withdrawals and transfer of funds, bill payments as well as digital banking," he said.
Bank Simpanan Nasional, he said, will kick start its services in Sabah in July. Services in Sarawak were launched this month.
The prime minister said RM15 million will be channeled to non-governmental organisations to tackle social issues of mental health, homelessness as well as other community-level social problems.
"As a result of the pandemic, we have heard of social problems such as mental and emotional pressure. The government will expand psychosocial support through platforms such as Talian Kasih," he said.
