GEORGE TOWN, Oct 22 — The Penang government today announced that the first phase of the cash payment programme for single and elderly mothers, which was initially scheduled to be held on Oct 24 and 25, would be postponed until further notice.
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State Environment and Welfare Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh today said that the decision to postpone the programme was made at the state council meeting yesterday.
“The postponement was made due to the spike of COVID-19 cases here in Penang as well as the safety concerns of the Penangites, especially for the elderly mothers who are more vulnerable against the virus.
“The programme will be delayed depending on the current COVID-19 situation here in Penang and if it is still not getting better by the end of the year, then we may have to postpone it until next year,” he told reporters here today.
According to Phee, 11,705 single mothers and 49,176 elderly mothers in Penang have registered under the programme and are eligible to receive RM100 each.
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He also encouraged the participants to open a bank account to enable the payment to be made directly via Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT).
“The EFT method would not only make it convenient for both the recipients and the state government for fund transfer, but it is also a much safer alternative instead of waiting long queues to collect the cash in person, especially during this COVID-19 outbreak,” he said.
He added that the application for the EFT method can be done in any district offices or state assembly service centres in Penang, or update their bank information digitally at isejahtera.penang.gov.my. – BERNAMA