HUGE CROWD: A big crowd swarms the Sibu District Office to check if they are successful in their BR1M application.
SIBU: The District Office here has dispatched about 2,000 letters to those in the Sibu District who have succeeded in their 1Malaysia People Assistance (BR1M) applications.
District officer Wong See Meng said the number of successful applicants in the district was 6,198.
“This is for the first batch of successful applicants. They can collect their cash vouchers from the District Office on Jan 18.
“They have until April 15 to claim the vouchers,” Wong told reporters yesterday amidst a large crowd swarming the District Office. Those in Nangka constituency will receive their vouchers from their assemblyman Dr Annuar Rapaee at Dewan Melayu Melanau Bersatu on Jan 19, he pointed out.
Wong said those unable to collect the vouchers on that day could collect them from the District Office the following day.
Applicants can cash their vouchers at either MayBank, CIMB or Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN), said Wong.
He also disclosed that they had sent out 500 letters to Bukit Assek and Lanang constituencies; Bawang Assan and Pelawan constituencies (500) and Nangka constituency (500).
“And just this morning, we gave out 400 letters. And so, in total about 2,000 letters have been sent out for the first batch of successful applicants,” he said while busily attending to applicants’ queries.
According to Wong, letters were arranged in alphabetical order and sent according to constituencies.
He explained that those casting their votes in Selangau for example, should check their status with the District Office there.
Those not registered as voters yet would receive their letters based on their addresses shown in their MyKads, he said further.
When asked on the huge crowd at the office, he said they were from other places such as Kanowit and Julau.
“Some thought that since they had applied from the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) here, they could obtain their status from our office.”
He pointed out that community leaders were also helping out in the delivery of letters to successful applicants.
Besides that, he said applicants may call the hotline to check their status and those checking their status at the District Office here would be given the letters on the spot if they were successful.
Meanwhile, Tuai Rumah Peter Tukie, 32, from Sungai Pasai told The Borneo Post that he had made a one-hour journey to the town to follow up on his application status.
“I heard from my friends that the status is now available. So, I travelled from Pasai Siong to check if my application is successful,” Tukie quipped.
A huge crowd ‘stormed’ the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) office here yesterday thinking that the RM500 cash aid had been given out. Many had travelled hastily from their faraway villages, accompanied by their families.
Some were seen throwing tantrums at the counter staff, claiming that their friends had told them the cash aid was already available.
A staff explained that the department was merely involved in processing the applications and not making out payments.
She told them that successful applicants would be notified by letters.