11,400 recipients in Sabah and Sarawak yet to claim BR1M - Johari

A total 11,400 recipients of the 1Malaysia Aid (BR1M) in the interior of Sabah and Sarawak have yet to claim their money, the Dewan Rakyat was told on Wednesday.

Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani said the Finance Ministry took note of the cases and had taken steps to facilitate the recipients in the interior to make a claim simultaneously.

"Although, we pay BR1M in three phases, for recipients in the interior, we send all three aid instalments together to facilitate the recipients in making their claims," he said.

He said this when replying to an oral question from Datuk Henry Sum Agong (BN-Lawas) who asked the ministry to explain why phase two and three of the BR1M payments for this year were held up and the steps to ensure a smooth payment of BR1M.

Overall, Johari said the handing over of phase two and three of BR1M went smoothly with the payment for Phase three made from Sept 21.

Meanwhile, Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government deputy Minister Datuk Halimah Mohd Sadique said the ministry would conduct surprise and periodical examinations of the Transaction Record and Annual Transaction Report Book of the Moneylenders (PPW) and Pawnbrokers(PPG) to ensure that they complied with the Money Lenders Act 1951 and the Pawnbrokers Act 1972.

"The conditions for PPW and PPG to get new licences are that the company directors must pass security screenings; had strong financial capability and confirmed via paid up capital; average transactions in the commercial areas is viable and adherence to radius distance between premises," she said when replying to an oral question from Oscar Ling Chai Yew (DAP-Sibu).

She said that the interests which could be imposed by PPG on loans must not exceed two per cent a month or part of it while the interest rate for PPW is 12 per cent a year for a loan with collateral and 18 per cent for a loan without collateral.