Government handouts have been a norm ever since the administration of Najib Razak, who first introduced the cash aid programme known as BR1M.

This is the fourth time the programme has been renamed since the Najib Razak era.

Payments will begin in January instead of March 2023.

Funds have been allocated for cash assistance for a number of groups including civil servants and low-income families.

Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz says the Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia assistance is now the largest direct cash aid initiative in the country's history.

While RM100 may seem a pittance to some, it can feed a poor family for a week.

The RM100 for households and RM50 for singles under the Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia initiative is meant to help them tackle the cost of living and increase in price of goods, says PM.

LHDN says no charges are imposed for filling out forms, and no third parties have been authorised to do so.

73-year-old Akau Rabi travelled 90km from his village to Kuching to wait for the day he can collect his Bantuan Prihatin Nasional aid.

Underprivileged university students and those in vulnerable groups should be given more aid.

Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat is expected to benefit some eight million Malaysians with incomes of between RM2,501 and RM5,000.