SANDAKAN: A 49-year-old kidney patient was among the 1,000 recipients of 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M 3.0) for the Libaran parliamentary constituency which was presented by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman at Sri Libaran Hall here yesterday.
Arriving at the hall on her wheelchair, Ainah Binti Shadan expressed her gratitude for the government’s assistance.
“I am very grateful to receive such assistance for three years now. With the given money, it could lessen my burden as I can use it to go for haemodialysis treatment in Hospital Duchess of Kent.
“And I am happy that my daughter also eligible to receive the BR1M for unmarried and young people category which is RM300 and so did my mother who received the RM650,” said the mother of three.
Ainah from Kampung Sungai Kayu, Mile 7, was accompanied by her mother and daughter during the presentation of BR1M 3.0. All of them expressed happiness over the aid.
Senior citizen Thien Hin Yuen was surprised that the BR1M for this year has been increased to RM650.
The 72-year-old said he did not expect it and thought that the BR1M increase was just a promise.
“I received RM500 last year and it was enough to cushion my daily expenses.
The RM650 this year comes as surprise,” he said.
Thien who lives with his wife and two children, said he would use the BR1M aid
to purchase essential goods and hopes that it would be continued.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Musa, who is also the Sungai Sibuga assemblyman, said the BR1M is proof of the government’s concern for the low income group.
“The BR1M 3.0 presentation went well today, and I hope that people would wisely use the money. I believe the assistance will ease their burden,” he said.
A total of 3,740 eligible recipients in Libaran parliamentary constituency who did not provide their bank accounts online will receive the cash payment in several phases.
Among those present were Musa’s wife, Datin Seri Hajah Faridah Haji Tussin, Assistant Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Zakaria Edris who is the Gum-Gum assemblyman, Batu Sapi member of parliament Datuk Linda Tsen, Sekong assemblyman Datuk Samsudin Yahya and Sandakan Municipal council president Datuk James Wong.