KUALA LUMPUR (July 30): A Government backbencher has called on Putrajaya to implement the conditional cashless subsidy system on a bigger scale throughout the country to improve Malaysia’s social aid system.

Nurul Izzah Anwar (PH-Permatang Pauh) said she hopes the Government could replicate MyKasih Foundation’s model of helping the needy.

“During my time in Lembah Pantai, and hopefully the same would happen now in Pematang Pauh, we collaborated with MyKasih which implemented a cashless subsidy system that was very efficient,” she said.

“Imagine, throughout the country every citizen who needs help is able to get the Government’s social aid without involving any politician,” she added when debating on the motion of thanks for the royal address at the Dewan Rakyat.

Nurul Izzah said the ideal situation is where the social aid is disbursed through MyKad for the purchase of groceries, where household items are given on the condition that kids have to go to school and where mothers learn financial literacy from Bank Negara Malaysia.

MyKasih provides a variety of aid to those in need, from food aid to skills training and youth development.

The key thrust of the MyKasih programme are the conditions — recipients must ensure they continue to improve their lives, be it through continued school attendance, scholarly improvement or a financial literacy course for mothers.