Prihatin package eases burden of daily income earners

For the past 20 years, Noriah Othman, 62, has been selling vegetables at a roadside stall at Jalan Sendayan here for income.

A single mother with four children, she said she managed to get about RM60 a day which she spent to feed and cloth her children, as well as pay for the utility bills and car installments, and for use as her business capital.

She said that for years she had been relying on her day to day income from selling vegetables and managed to get by without any problem.

It was only when the country was hit by COVID-19, which forced the government to enforce the Movement Control Order (MCO) since last March 18 to break the chain of the virus infection, that she felt completely at a loss.

It has never crossed her mind that a situation like this would force her to temporarily close her business, leaving her with no income, said Noriah.

However, the Priharin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package (Prihatin) announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin last March 27 has helped to reduce her burden.

Noriah said under the Prihatin package, she would receive RM1,600 which is given for households with earning of RM4,000 and below, while her two children, whose earning is less than RM2,000 a month, would receive RM800 each.

“I thank the government for listening to the plight of the people like me, who lives from hand to mouth.

"Now that I cannot operate my business, I have no income at all, but with the assistance from the government, it will help me as I am also running out of savings.

“The RM800 each which my children, who are woking in Kuala Lumpur, will be getting will be helpful for them to meet the cost of living in the city and pay for their rooms,” she said.

She said the six-month deferment in car loan repayment would enable her to save a total of RM1,800 for use during emergency.

“We don’t how long more will the MCO be enforced, but I hope it will end soon to enable the people to get back to their life,” she added.

A nasi lemak seller in Taman Desa Ixora 2, Senawang, Redzuan Mansor, 57, said selling nasi lemak has been his source of income since the past 11 years and it is now becoming a challenge for him to cope with the family needs as he has no income now in having to stop the business because of the MCO.

However, he said, he felt relieved upon hearing the assistance under PRIHATIN provided by the government.

“I will receive RM1,600 in financial assistance for household with income below RM4,000 and RM600 in Cost of Living assistance.

“My two sons, aged 23 and 26, will be getting RM500 and RM800, respectively,” he added.

Redzuan said he would use the financial assistance to cover the daily expenses and also save some for use as capital for his nasi lemak business when the MCO period is over.

A kuih seller in Gemencheh, Musizmawatie Musa, 32, said she will save the RM1,600 she will be getting for household income with less than RM4,000 for emergency use.

“I am dependent on the kuih business for income and have managed to make some savings, which I am now using to cover the daily expenses during MCO, “ she said, adding that she would also be able to save from the deferment on car loan repayment, amounting RM2,760, and also on discount in electricity bill.

The RM250 billion PRIHATIN package was announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin last March 27 to protecting the well-being of the people who are adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

--BERNAMA