This kind gesture is very much appreciated by the affected families, and one should thank former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for implementing this. - Bernama pic
This kind gesture is very much appreciated by the affected families, and one should thank former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for implementing this. - Bernama pic

LETTER: The federal government must be complimented for helping the families of Covid-19 deceased persons with a one-off payment of RM5,000 through the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma).

Those quarantined and hospitalised for Covid-19 also get a special payment of RM100 per day for a maximum of 14 days. This kind gesture is very much appreciated by the affected families, and one should thank former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for implementing this.

The application procedure through Nadma is easy as all that is needed are the deceased person's death certificate, identity card and the applicant's particulars.

This process can be be made better if Nadma informs the applicant that the application is being processed and whether any more documents or clarifications are needed.

Now, it is one way - the application is submitted by WhatsApp, email or post and nothing is heard of it until the payment is approved. Don't keep them in the dark about the status of the application. Nadma needs to keep the applicants informed by at least messaging their handphones

The Selangor government too has a Covid-19 death benefit programme. However, the applicant has to go through a complicated process and has to submit a stack of documents -- all these for a miserly RM1,000 from Malaysia's highly developed and most prosperous state.

Selangor must take more responsibility for the large number of people that were infected and the high number of deaths as it was hesitant for a full lockdown earlier on. Can't the Selangor government make the procedure easier and convenient bearing in mind that the bereaved applicant has lost a family member to the pandemic.

What is needed is for the deceased persons death certificate and the identity card numbers as it can be found out easily whether a person was born in Selangor or not and other relevant documents.

With government departments fully computerised it should be an easy process. The Selangor government has a dubious reputation of placing too many hurdles when an applicant wants to apply for any benefit, fund or programme.

All kinds of irrelevant questions are asked short of querying the applicant why he wants to apply for the benefit! I hope that those instituting the procedures or drafting the questionnaire or applications forms will look at it from the point of view of the applicant.

Make online applications easier and convenient. The people have been badly affected socio-economically by the pandemic and the state government needs to give more benefits generously, and not be stingy.

It is high time that the state representatives debate more about Selangor's problems and shortcomings, and not be overly focused on national level issues and parliament.

V. Thomas

Sg Buloh, Selangor


The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times