Image stating ‘new benefits’ under PH, is fake, says DAP

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 4 – A viral image of benefits supposedly being given by the Pakatan Harapan since January 1, 2019 has been found to be inaccurate and misleading.

The image carries the message that “all senior citizens are to go to any Pakatan Harapan service centre for free medical card registration.”

It then states the benefits to be applied as being a “Senior Medical Card”, a “Senior RM2,500 Platinum application” and a “Happy New Year Red Envelope, RM100”.

As the image above shows, some conditions apply to enjoy the benefits.

However, a spokesperson for Pakatan Harapan component party DAP has refuted the viral message of the image in question, saying that it was not released by PH nor any party under the ruling coalition, nor its agencies.

NMT were informed by DAP that the benefits, if any, only applies to Selangor residents.

“On that note, there is no ‘Senior Medical Card’. Instead, since 2017, the Selangor government has introduced a scheme called ‘Skim Peduli Sihat’.”

Under the “Skim Peduli Sihat”, Selangor residents in the Bottom 40 group (B40) can obtain treatment at private clinics with an entitlement of RM700 per family and RM350 per individual.

The scheme has made primary healthcare accessible and affordable to the poorest of the poor, with minimal waiting time and continuous treatment and follow-up with the same family doctor.

The success has also been acknowledged by the B40 group and general practitioners (GPs) who have signed up with the programme.

Death benefit and free shopping money

On the alleged “Senior Platinum Card”, the DAP spokesperson said that there was no such card, though such a benefit of RM2,500 was available for the families of senior citizens.

Senior citizens in Selangor can apply for the Skim Mesra Usia Emas (SMUE, Senior Citizen-friendly Scheme). Under the scheme, the beneficiary of the senior citizens can claim a total of RM2,500 when the applicant dies, to cover funeral expenses among other costs.

On the “Happy New Year red envelope”, DAP told NMT that there the name is wrong, however a programme called “Jom Shopping for Chinese New Year” has been activated in the state.

“Households earning less than RM1,500 may obtain vouchers worth RM100 to purchase groceries in a designated hypermarket on an appointed date,” the DAP spokesperson said. This scheme has also been carried out prior to other festive periods.

– NMT