Benedick said this was part of the RM16.8 million special assistance under the state’s “Sabah We Care” Covid-19 aid for poor and hardcore households registered under e-Kasih.
He said the B40 group not under the e-Kasih list had also been given aid.
“They include participants of Mini Estet Sejahtera (Mesej), mountain porters and, in the early stages, oil palm, cocoa and rubber smallholders as well as livestock breeders and fishermen.
”As of yesterday, we have reached out to 42,569 people,” he said here today.
Benedick said 20,376 of this number were classified as poor and hardcore poor, and they had each received a one-off RM500 assistance.
“The rest have received RM300 in assistance. All the funds have been deposited into their bank accounts.
“For those without bank accounts, officers of the respective district offices and the Welfare Department, together with community development leaders, went to their houses to hand over the cash,” he said.
He urged those under the B40 group, but not under e-Kasih, who have yet to receive any assistance to send in their applications through bantuan.covid19.sabah.gov.my.
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