BSH scheme to include single Malaysians above 40 earning under RM2,000 monthly

KUALA LUMPUR: The Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH) programme will be expanded to include single Malaysians aged 40 and above who earn less than RM2,000 a month.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, at the tabling of the 2020 Budget today, said this category covers 1.1 million people, on top of the existing 3.9 million recipients of the BSH cash aid.

A total of RM5 billion will be allocated for the BSH programme.

“The BSH scheme will also include disabled people aged 18 and above with a monthly income of RM2,000,” he said.

He said the groups would receive RM300 and automatically become Takaful Mysalam policy holders for free.

Lim said under the 2020 Budget, RM24.2 billion will be allocated for subsidies and social aid, an increase from the RM22.3 billion allocated in 2019.

Apart from the BSH, the sum will also be allocated for subsidies in agriculture, fuel and dividends.