The coalition’s cost of living committee wants the immediate one-off assistance increased to RM2,000 (for households earning less than RM2,500) and RM1,500 (those earning from RM2,500 to RM5,000) as the current amounts were not enough.

“The old rates were RM500 for households earning RM2,500 and below and RM300 for those getting between RM2,500 and RM5,000.

“The amount of financial assistance is too small and, furthermore, will only be disbursed at the end of this month,” it said in a statement today.

It said while the coalition wholeheartedly agreed with the extension due to the high number of Covid-19 cases, with no less than 5,000 cases per day over the last few weeks, it wished to see financial aid being distributed immediately to help quell public anger and anxiety.

Among others, it also proposed an automatic three-month moratorium to the M40 group in addition to those in B40, the extension of the wage subsidy by another three months and a 30% rebate in the power tariff.

“The international trade and industry ministry should also be more accountable in providing approval for businesses to operate during MCO 3.0.

“There is too much leniency being given to many types of businesses to operate, with more than 17 sectors allowed. This situation does not help, in fact it retards the effort to flatten the Covid-19 infection curve,” it said.

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