KANGAR: The government has been urged to probe allegations that some people are posing as agents and charging RM13,000 to prepare application papers for the Madani Community Wellbeing Programme (SejaTi Madani) grant.
Perlis Umno Liaison Committee deputy chairman Datuk Dr Fathul Bari Mat Jahya on Saturday (Aug 31) said representatives from the Federal Village Development and Security Committee and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) had had to pay the charges to the agents.
"I urge the government, through the Implementation and Coordination Unit (ICU), to investigate this issue.
"I understand that these agents charge or collect a fee for preparing the paperwork and ensuring the swift approval of the grant, with each applicant being charged RM13,000.
"I'm not accusing anyone, but I ask the government to investigate this matter because the RM100,000 grant should not be paid to these agents but instead used for its intended purpose," he said here.
He said the funds were meant for the economic development of the community and he did not want to see these funds or allocations being misused.
"The ICU offers direction or guidance to applicants on how to submit applications, prepare paperwork and more.
"So I don't want to see any situations where applicants submit an application, but have no idea about the programme.
"They don't even understand what is being proposed, and the paperwork is prepared by someone else for a fee of RM13,000.
"In my view, RM13,000 is too high and unreasonable, and this practice is a betrayal of the funds the government provides for the economic development of the community."
The programme is an initiative by the unity government, as presented in the 2024 Budget, to boost economic activities in communities, with grants of up to RM100,000 available to eligible communities.