KUALA LUMPUR (March 21): The federal government announced on Friday it will distribute cash totalling RM900 million to eligible serving civil servants and public pensioners under a special Aidilfitri Financial Assistance programme.

Civil servants in Grade 56 and below, including contract staff such as contract of service, contract for service, daily part-time officers, and MySTEP appointees, will each receive RM500, according to a statement from the Ministry of Finance (MOF).

Government pensioners, including pension beneficiaries, Employees Provident Fund retirees, as well as both pensioned and non-pensioned veterans, will receive a special assistance of RM250.

The payments will be disbursed before Hari Raya Aidilfitri, which is expected to fall on March 31, and cover over two million civil servants and retirees.

"This assistance takes into account the financial needs of the people in preparing for the festive season,” the MOF said. “The government’s revenue expansion through public financial restructuring has provided some flexibility to equitably share national resources.”

In addition, the government will bring forward the second phase of the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah payment for nine million recipients to March 24 involving an allocation of RM1.7 billion, the MOF added.