A recent national survey revealed that only 49% out of 1,047 Malaysians are aware of the various types of government products or assistance that are available at present. These respondents were also asked if they were aware of the availability of these assistance for various groups in Malaysia and if these assistance were adequate.
People with disabilities is the highest for awareness with 84% but only 42% said it is adequate. Education followed suit at 81% for awareness and 38% for adequacy. Healthcare 80% for awareness and 59% said it is sufficient. Housing received 80% for awareness and a mere 23% said it is adequate. Single mothers, 78% for awareness and only 31% responded for adequate. Low household income (below RM3,860) garnered 76% for its awareness and only 18% said it is adequate. Senior citizens received 76% for awareness and 43% suggested that it is adequate. Cost of living has a high awareness with 75% respondents saying yes but recorded the lowest for adequacy with 16%. Awareness for businesses stands at 67% and 34% said it is adequate. Transportation and employment received 64% and 58% for awareness and 48% and 27% for adequacy respectively.
In terms of perception towards the purpose of the government products and assistance, 50% out of the 49% of respondents who are aware of such products and assistance think that the Government has helped the deserving groups in Malaysia whilst 27% believe otherwise and the remaining 23% are not sure. These respondents, when probed if the federal government has provided assistance fairly and transparently to all states, including states governed by the opposition, 42% agreed that the federal government has distributed assistance fairly and transparently to all states. The remaining 25% disagreed and 33% remained on the fence.
Out of the 49% of Malaysians who are aware of the currently available assistance, 41% stated that the federal government’s products and assistance are easily accessible by the deserving groups, 31% felt otherwise and 29% were not sure. It is also noteworthy that only 30% out of these respondents stated that the application procedures for government assistance are easy to follow, against 39% who stated otherwise and the remaining were neutral at 31%.
Respondents were also asked to evaluate the efforts of the federal government in providing assistance to deserving groups. Out of the 49% of respondents who selected Good, People with disabilities ranked highest with 75%. Senior citizens (75%), School and university students (73%), Single mothers (70%), Small-Medium Enterprises (62%), B40 income group (60%) and M40 income group recorded the lowest with 36%.
KAJIDATA Advisor, Professor Dato’ Sri Dr. Syed Arabi Idid indicated that the overall awareness is unhealthily low considering less than half of the total respondents (49%) are aware of the various types of government products/assistance that are currently available. About one-third of the respondents are unsure and the figure is significant for ethnicities other than Malay. Over 35% Indian and 30% Chinese respondents, are not aware of the available government products and assistance. As such, steps musts be taken to increase awareness to ensure that the deserving groups are receiving the assistance that they require.
