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KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin revealed today that 101,385 applications have been received for the Employee Insurance Plan compared to just over 40,000 in 2019 and 24,000 in 2018.
Speaking at the Dewan Rakyat, he said that many Malaysians were facing financial problems due to the Covid-19 pandemic, especially those earning RM2,000 and less.
He said that 52% of those who had lost their jobs earned less than RM2,000 per month.
“The Covid-19 crisis has had an impact on livelihoods around the world,” he said when answering a question from Ahmad Faizal Azumu (PPBM-Tambun), who asked if the government had identified those who were classified as poor and extremely poor after the motion control order was implemented.
Muhyiddin, who is the deputy for Pagoh, said the government has taken various measures to alleviate the hardships of people in both cities and rural areas.
He said that according to a report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in October, of the 500 families living in public housing in the Federal Territories, 35% were unemployed with one in two families categorized in B40.
“These numbers are higher than last year,” he said.
Muhyiddin said the government will continue with eKasih, the national poverty data bank, to offer RM2.2 billion in social assistance next year compared to RM1.2 billion in 2020.
He said Putrajaya will also allocate RM5 billion for 4.5 million beneficiaries under Bantuan Sara Hidup, the public cash aid for the poor.
“The government will focus on eradicating poverty,” he said, adding that a task force was created in September to carry out initiatives to ensure that those in need receive adequate help.
To an additional question from Faizal about eKasih, Muhyiddin said that the government would maintain the system but would also incorporate new technology to ensure it remains relevant.
