The third instalment of the Cost of Living Aid (BSH) allowance for 2018 will be made from Aug 15 to the almost 4.1 million recipients and will involve a total of RM1.6 billion, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said today.

He said the payment was being made to assist the people to make preparations to celebrate Aidiladha which was expected to fall on Aug 22.

“The payment will be credited directly to the accounts of the respective recipients from that date (Aug 15). For those recipients who do not have an account, the letter of approval will be posted to them and they can obtain the cash from any branch of Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN),” he said in a media statement.

Lim said the payment was proof that the federal government was not bankrupt as claimed by certain quarters and that it had the capacity to pay the allowance without having to depend on the revenue from the goods and services tax (GST) that was zero-rated on June 1.

Lim said queries could be addressed by calling the toll-free line on 1-800-88-2716 or by sending an email to [email protected].

He also said that fuel subsidy amounting to RM3 billion up to the end of the year had been set aside to stabilise the prices of RON95 petrol and diesel at RM2.20 and RM2.18 per litre, respectively, although the world oil price had increased 42 percent to US$74 a barrel. 

- Bernama