SEREMBAN: To claim the RM100 eMadani credit, some senior citizens are “forced” to spend money to buy a smartphone!

Lobak state assemblyman Chew Seh Yong said many visited his service centre asking for help to download the app, register as a recipient, or appeal for submitting an incomplete form.

“Of the cases, at least two senior citizens ended up buying smartphones just to claim the RM100 eMadani credit,” he said.

They spent about RM300 each for a smartphone to claim the RM100 eMadani credit.

Chew said his service centre had assisted close to 100 senior citizens in applying for the cash aid.

Although the government is encouraging Malaysians to use e-wallet, he said it should take senior citizens’ problem into consideration when drafting a new policy.

“Some seniors rely on their children to apply. Some underprivileged groups do not even own a smartphone to start with,” he said.

To claim the RM100 eMadani credit, the applicant has to sign up for a Wi-Fi package besides owning a smartphone. This indirectly adds to the financial burden of senior citizens, he said.

Chew urged the government to work with telecommunication companies offering senior citizens special discounts to purchase smartphones for them to claim the RM100.

“Apart from using e-wallet, there is no other avenue to apply for the cash aid.

“Those who have no smartphones or money to buy one are unable to claim the aid,” he said.

Beginning 4 December, Malaysians aged 21 and above with annual income below RM100,000 are eligible to apply for RM100 eMadani credit.

They must also file their income tax returns and are not recipients of e-Tunai Belia Rahmah.

Many senior citizens qualify for the cash aid but are unable to claim the money as they do not know how to use the app.