Update on COVID-19 Muis Support Fund

Question

Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Development and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs out of the 7,700 applications received for the COVID-19 MUIS Support Grant, how many applications are successful and how many of the successful applicants will continue to be supported by zakat or other financial assistance schemes.

Response

Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs & Minister for Social and Family Development:

1. Our social assistance framework comprises multiple lines of assistance. At the national level, ComCare is a key component of our social safety net, which provides eligible low-income families who are unable to meet their basic living needs with a comprehensive package of assistance.

2. The Covid-19 Muis Support Fund (CMSF) was launched in August 2020 to provide one-off financial assistance to eligible Muslim households who were economically impacted by the pandemic. Households that had a per-capita-income (PCI) of between $400 and $1000 and were not receiving assistance under the Zakat Financial Assistance (FA) or ComCare schemes were eligible to apply.

3. There were 5,547 successful applications for the one-off financial assistance under CMSF. Those who qualified were also encouraged to apply for the Zakat FA. Today, about 370 of these households continue to be supported with monthly Zakat FA. Muis also directs Zakat FA beneficiaries who are eligible for further ComCare support to the Social Service Offices (SSOs).