Nancy Shukri: Ministry will make decision on JKMPay after report presentation

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 4 — Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri today said that her ministry (KPWKM) is awaiting presentation of the report on the Social Welfare Department’s (JKM) Cashless Assistance Payment (JKMPay) pilot project before deciding whether to continue or halt it.

The study on JKMPay has been completed and the report will be presented some time this month, she told reporters this afternoon after a new year briefing ceremony held at the ministry’s headquarters in Putrajaya.

"We want to see which (decision) would be better (for JKMPay's recipients),” she said, adding that the process will take time.

So far, she said that those who preferred the old method of cash payments and those who preferred the new method of card payments comprised roughly the same percentage of people.

There would be no issue with reverting to method of cash payments if people preferred that, she added.

Nancy also said she has received many good suggestions from the perspective of the country’s legislation and they are in the process of being implemented.

However, she did not elaborate on what the suggestions are.

She also expressed gratitude towards Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi for bringing up issues related to persons with disabilities.

"We very much need feedback from those who are affected by the system readily available,” she said.

Apart from that, she said there are no new subsidies or projects planned for now.

"We’re waiting to see — who knows, the new Budget 2023 might have. We don’t know.

"But for now, no. No new subsidies or projects,” she said.

JKMPay was previously introduced by Nancy’s predecessor, Datuk Seri Rina Harun, with the project condemned by NGOs representing the disabled community.

The group called the feasibility study of the project one-sided and said it was not done fairly.