Many unaware of govt aid, subsidies

KUALA LUMPUR: Is it just plain or wilful ignorance!
The healthcare is subsidised, there is BR1M cash handouts, the cost of some necessities like rice and cooking oil is subsidised, yet more than half of the respondents in a recent nationwide study claimed they were not aware of the products and assistance rendered by the government, Bernama reported.
The findings of a nationwide study conducted by a commercial and social intelligence outfit, Kajidata Sdn Bhd on what the public thought of the products and assistance provided by the government, came as a surprise even to Kajidata adviser Prof Datuk Seri Dr Syed Arabi Idid (pix).
The analysis of the telephone poll on 1,047 Malaysians, who were selected on the basis of random stratified sampling along ethnicity, gender, age and state found 51.1% of the respondents being not aware or not sure on the various types of government products and assistance available.
Syed Arabi noted that this is an unhealthy finding and it is more significant in the Indian (35%) and Chinese (30%) communities and as such, steps must be taken to create greater awareness on the products and assistance provided by the government.
The former rector of the International Islamic University Malaysia (UIAM) added that such awareness is also crucial in ensuring that the deserving or target groups receive the assistance meant for them.
Meanwhile, the analysis on the remaining 48.9% of the respondents, who are aware of the assistance provided by the government, agreed that the government has been helping the deserving groups.
For example 84.2% of them knew the government has been extending a helping hand for the disabled, single mothers (77.9%), low household income group (B40) (76.2%) and senior citizens (76.2%).
On the products extended to the people, 80.7% of the respondents were aware bulk of the education cost is borne by the government, healthcare (80.1%) and public housing (80.1%).
However, those who were aware of the government products and assistance, generally felt they were inadequate except for healthcare where 59% of the respondents felt it was adequate.
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