PUTRAJAYA: The scope of protection under the 1Malaysia National Hawkers and Petty Traders Insurance Plan (P1MPIN) now includes coverage of up to RM2,000 for premises and equipment from fire and lightning.
Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister (KPDNKK) Datuk Seri Hasan Malek said death benefits would also be paid in 24 hours after Takaful Ikhlas is informed.
He said RM5.6 million was allocated this year to accommodate coverage by P1MPIN to 1,076,782 registered hawkers and petty traders.
“The government always has the welfare of hawkers and petty traders at heart and will continue to cooperate with numerous agencies and associations to improve programmes and empower the development of the sector,” he said.
He told this to reporters after the signing of a P1MPIN agreement between KPDNKK, Bank Rakyat and Takaful Ikhlas Berhad here yesterday.
Prior to this, Hasan had said the scope of coverage of P1MPIN encompassed natural death and death from accident, permanent disability, medical expenses due to accident, death benefits, snatch theft and robbery, with protection ranging from RM250 to RM5,000.
He said 105 claims totalling RM603,765.50 had been made since P1MPIN was created on Jan 1, 2013, with most being death benefits.
Meanwhile, commenting on reports of hikes in the prices of cooking gas of up to more than RM5 a tank, Hasan said this was caused by delivery charges based on the distance involved imposed by traders.
According to Hasan, KPDNKK fixed the price of a 14-kilogramme tank of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) at a subsidised rate of RM26.60 but the delivery charges were up to the traders.
Hasan said traders also resorted to raising the prices of LPG due to shortage of gas tanks following the smuggling of cooking gas out of the country.
He also said KPDNKK would review the prices of LPG and other aspects of the industry as it had not been done for the past 14 years.
“KPDNKK will come up with proposals covering all aspects and will discuss with the Finance Ministry next week on the matter,” he added. — Bernama