With Malaysia under total lockdown from 1-14 June 2021, the government has announced another round of assistance to help Malaysians facing financial difficulties. Here’s what individuals and households can get from the Pemerkasa Plus Programme:

1) Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR) cash aid

What can you get?	Who can get it?	When will you get it?
RM500	Households earning less than RM2,500	From end-June 2021
RM300	Households earning between RM2,501-RM5,000
RM100	Single individuals

The government hasn’t announced how the cash will be given, but previous BPR payments were made directly into recipients’ bank accounts or through cash payments at BSN branches for those without bank accounts. You can find more information on BPR here.

2) Loan moratorium

What can you get?	Who can get it?	When will you get it?
Option of: Automatic approval of bank moratorium for 3 months OR A 50% reduction in loan repayment for 6 months	B40 group and those who have lost their jobs	Effective immediately
Loan moratorium of up to 12 months and extension of the loan period of up to 36 month for hire purchase of buses and taxis	Bus and taxi operators	Effective immediately

To discuss the loan moratorium, you can contact your lenders directly.

3) One-off special cash aid

What can you get?	Who can get it?	When will you get it?
RM500	Tourist, school bus, taxi and e-hailing drivers	July 2021

Drivers can contact the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) for further information.

4) Microcredit facilities

What can you get?	Who can get it?	When is it available?
Microcredit facilities with financing rates from 3% from BSN, Tekun, MARA, SME Corp and Yayasan Pembangunan Ekonomi Islam Malaysia (YaPEIM)	Traders, hawkers and microbusinesses	For the rest of this year

In addition to the new assistance announced under Pemerkasa Plus, the government also said it is extending the following programmes previously announced last year:

Stamp duty exemption for Home Ownership Campaign extended to 31 Dec 2021 from 31 May 2021
Sales tax exemption for imported completely knocked down (CKD) and completely built up (CBU) vehicles extended to 31 Dec 2021 from 30 June 2021

A previously announced initiative to offer RM150 in e-wallet credit for youth aged 18-20 years was also opened for application from 1 June 2021. Eligible recipients can claim the e-wallet credit from BigPay, ShopeePay, Boost and Touch ‘n Go.

For full details on Pemerkasa Plus, you can read the Prime Minister’s speech here. We’ll also update this blog as we get further information on the new assistance programme, so do keep checking our website!

If you’re having difficulty managing your cash during this uncertain time, try out our monthly budget calculator or read our planning and budgeting guide to help you.

You can also watch our video on the loan moratorium to help you decide if you should apply for it.