Perak MCA rep: Finance Ministry must clarify RM5 Perlindungan Tenang fee
IPOH: The Finance Ministry needs to clarify a RM5 fee when registering for the Perlindungan Tenang micro-insurance programme, says Low Guo Nan (pic).
The Barisan Nasional Ipoh Barat MCA coordinator said participating insurance companies had issued a notice about the charge that would start from July 15.
“There is also a column for the charge in the agreement letters received by applicants. This fee should not be borne by anyone – not the insurance company, insurance agent or the applicants,” he said in a statement on Saturday (July 2).
“If the fee is charged, it will discourage those in the B40 group to join the programme and those who have yet to apply before the deadline will most likely not apply,” he added, saying that the programme should remain free.
The programme is an initiative by Bank Negara Malaysia with insurance and takaful industry players that was aimed at providing simple and affordable micro-insurance products to under-served segments in the country.
Under the Budget 2021, the Federal Government announced that eligible Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR) aid recipients aged between 18 and 60 years old would be given a RM50 voucher to buy affordable insurance and takaful plans from participating companies.
Low, who is also Perak MCA public service and complaints bureau chief, said the Ministry should abolish the fee and also encourage more to register for the programme.
“According to the database, almost three million people in the B40 group, namely those with low incomes, have applied to join the programme for free.
“But there are about eight million people who are eligible, which means that there are still nearly 60% of the B40 group that have not yet registered for this social protection scheme,” he said.
“The government should also further extend the protection to B40 couples and increase the age limit, as most of those eligible to apply are senior citizens over 70 years old,” he added.
Low said he will set up a mobile counter at several locations in the constituency to help those eligible apply for the programme.
“I urge the people to visit www.myptv.my to check whether they are eligible or not and apply as soon as possible,” he added.