KUALA LUMPUR:The date for new registration and update of Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR) has been extended until February 25, 2021, compared to January 15 set previously.

According to Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, this is to ensure that the BPR will be given to the truly deserving ones while taking into account the Movement Control Order (MCO).

"Only applicants who have never received Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH) 2020 or Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) B40 as well as households earning RM5,000 and below a month need to make a new application.

"This includes new vulnerable groups who are eligible to apply due to changes in their income status due to the impact of COVID-19," he said in a media statement.

Tengku Zafrul said with the new registration process and updates, some of those who did not pass and have not received the BPR still have the opportunity to submit an application for re-confirmation.

Recipients of BSH 2020 and BPN B40 who have previously passed do not need to make a new registration or update if there is no change of information.

BPR Phase 1 payments will also be expedited to the end of February 2021, as announced in the Economic and People Protection Malaysia  Assistance Package (PERMAI) on 18 January 2021.

BPR Phase 2 payments are expected to be made in early May 2021.

To date, the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (IRBM) has received almost 550,000 new applications that need to be confirmed and cross-checked in the system.