Cut down bureaucracy and ensure govt aids reach the people fast – Ipoh Timur MP

SUBANG JAYA, June 19 – People are in dire need of government’s aids following the imposition of MCO 2.0 and MCO 3.0 within six months this year, and hence efforts must be taken to cut down bureaucracy and ensure that help reaches them as soon as possible, said Member Parliament (DAP) of Ipoh Timur Wong Kah Woh in a statement today.

Urging Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz to be flexible under the prevailing economic conditions and the people’s stressful situation amid the pandemic, Wong said Tengku Zafrul should also immediately announce the extension of the appeal period for the Bantuan Prihatin (BPR) for at least one month after MCO 3.0 is lifted.

The appeal period for BPR started on June 15 and will end on June 30. Individuals who can appeal are those who had their applications rejected earlier.

People can make their appeal via online at bpr.hasil.gov.my or pass the appeal form to the Inland Revenue Board branches personally. However, this may pose a challenge, as those who are not computer savvy will have only two days to submit their forms as the IRB branch offices will be closed in view of the lockdown till June 28.

“It will be disastrous if people starting to cramp the IRB branches for the submission of the appeal documents just to catch the appeal deadline.

“Tengku Zafrul may not be aware that the appointment system at IRB during MCO 3.0 is not getting well on the ground and not able to fulfil the demands of the people,” Wong said.

A check on the e-Janji Temu system on the IRB Website show that all slots for appointment at the IRB Branches in major city had already been taken up for the whole 15 days appeal period, after less than 48 hours of the opening of the appeal system.

In his statement, Wong also furnished the list of IRB branches that are fully booked in major cities. He added that going to another branch was not an option for the people due to the restriction on inter-district travels.

The people are further stressed and their plight needs to be understood, said Wong, who also called for a blanket approval to be granted to all Phase 1, 2021 recipients to make them automatically eligible for the payment of BPR in phase 2, which started May 7.

–WE