KUALA LUMPUR (June 14): The government’s decision to not continue Perlindungan Tenang Voucher (PTV) was due to the social protection scheme’s low redemption rate in comparison to its RM354 million allocation. 

Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the PTV programme, which offered social protection to recipients in the bottom 40% income group (B40) via RM50 to RM75 vouchers for insurance and takaful, only saw 490 individuals or 0.01% of the 4.9 million individuals that participated in the programme redeem their vouchers. 

In view of the programme’s RM354 million allocation, he noted the programme was not an effective method to provide social protection to the low-income group.

However, while the PTV programme is discontinued, Ahmad Maslan underlined that the government is continuing the mySalam scheme (providing health protection and takaful to eligible individuals), and Skim Peduli Kesihatan untuk Kumpulan B40 (healthcare assistance). 

The PTV programme was implemented back in the Covid-19 pandemic era in 2021 and 2022 to provide insurance and takaful protection to the low-income group. 

Ahmad Maslam was responding to a question from Labis Member of Parliament Pang Hok Liong pertaining to whether the government plans to extend social protection to the B40 and allocate vouchers for recipients of Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (the Rahmah Cash Aid), so that they can participate in protection schemes such as PTV. 

He also answered Pang’s supplementary question on what the government's long-term policy plan is to ensure a reduction in the poverty rate of the B40.

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