LETTER | I would like to urge the Finance Ministry to fasten the first payment for Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia (BR1M) 2018 before the Chinese New Year celebrations, so that those who are celebrating the occasion can use the money to buy necessary items including decorations and food items.

Based on the information provided by the Finance Ministry, the BR1M 2018 payments to recipients under the household category will be distributed in stages three times a year - in February, June and August 2018. Recipients under the single individual category will receive a lump sum starting February 2018.

Based on the payment scheme provided, those in the household category who qualify for RM 1,200 will get the first payment of RM400, those who qualify for RM 900 will get first payment of RM300, and those in the single individuals category will get a RM 450 one-off payment, supposedly in February 2018.

However, based on our checks and also feedback from the ground, they have yet to receive the first payment promised by the ministry even though we are close to the middle of the month, and Chinese New Year is just round the corner.

The extra RM400 or even RM 300 can go a long way to help those celebrating, especially the Chinese community, buy the necessary items, especially since there has been an increase in the prices of some selected new year goodies.

In 2016, the ministry decided to pay out the third instalment for BR1M early in light of Hari Raya Aidilfitri that year. Even last year in 2017, the third payment was also done before Hari Raya Aidiladha so that the Muslim community could benefit from it before their festive celebrations.

I thus urge the Finance Ministry to strongly consider disbursing the first payment of BR1M 2018 before Chinese New Year, which falls on Feb 16, 2018, so that it can also benefit those who are preparing for this joyous occasion.

KELVIN YII is special assistant to DAP Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.