The government has initiated the eMadani program for citizens aged 21 and above with an annual income not exceeding RM100,000. The program officially commenced on Monday, December 4th.

Insight:

• The conversations on the eMAdani initiatives garnered around 51.9K mentions with 247.8K social interactions that potentially reached 384.6M users.
• Public sentiment toward Malaysia’s recent eMadani initiative appears to be mixed, encompassing a wide spectrum of both positive and negative reactions. A segment of online users expressed gratitude to the government, emphasizing that the initiative could provide significant assistance to the needy, particularly within the B40 community.
• However, many have pointed out several loopholes in the application procedure and disbursement. Some MAE users encountered setbacks, facing issues with utilizing the money through the app and raising concerns about the effectiveness and reliability of Maybank. Conversely, other e-wallet channels reported no such complaints.
• Additionally, discussions about rejected applications have gained prominence, with many students, new workers, housewives, the elderly, and some B40 applicants not receiving the eMadani funds. Expressing their frustration on social media, they criticized the selection system, citing that they met all the criteria but were still rejected. Allegations surfaced that those who didn’t receive the application hadn’t completed their yearly tax filing.
• In response, individuals argued that many low-income earners from the B40 group did not file their taxes, as their salaries did not meet the minimum requirements. Despite the obligation for every salaried earner to file yearly taxes, many were unaware of this requirement. The necessity for people to have already filed their taxes to access the initiative has caused trouble for many. Students and housewives who do not receive a salary also expressed sadness over rejected applications.
• These circumstances have raised questions about the real target group of this initiative. While some argue that the RM100 cash handouts should benefit the B40 groups, others claim that many B40 groups were neglected as they did not file taxes, and those from M40 and lower T20 were the ones benefiting. People assert that the government has failed to prioritize correctly and that the allocations could be better channeled to those truly in need.