Cash rebate payment kicks off smoothly

BANGI: The personal vehicle cash rebate payment kicked off smoothly at 683 post offices nationwide yesterday despite many people making their claims since morning.

Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said that as at 10.30am, the amount paid out for vehicle whose road tax purchased or renewed between April 1 and May 31, was about RM24.12 million and involved 47,774 vehicles.

“Vehicle owners are advised not to rush the rebate claim in these couple of days because they have until March 31, 2009 to do so,” he told reporters at the Bandar Baru Bangi post office.

He said Pos Malaysia Berhad had also decided to continue its operations at selected post offices tomorrow to facilitate the cash rebate payment. Shaziman said that in Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah, the claim could be made during office hours.

To fasten the transaction process, he said, claimants could download the form from Pos Malaysia’s website at www.pos.com.my.

The government has decided that private vehicle owners will be given cash rebates for petrol and diesel after the restructuring of fuel prices on June 4.

Shaziman also said 1.7 million vehicles had their road tax purchased or renewed between April 1 and May 31 and the rebate amount was estimated between RM700 million and RM800 million.

He said a glitch was detected on the database at the Paloh post office in Johor this morning but the problem was solved in less than half an hour. Shaziman said Pos Malaysia had been told to allow claims by vehicle owners carrying a temporary identification card.

However, he said, a police report must be attached to such a claim to avoid forgery.

For claimants in rural areas, Shaziman said, Pos Malaysia also provided payment through money orders.

He also said owners of vehicles using natural gas (NGV) were not eligible for the cash rebate.

On a proposal by the Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations (Fomca) to limit the rebate payment to one-individual-for-one-vehicle and not to one-individual-for-a-maximum-of-five-vehicles, Shaziman said it had to be studied first.

“The government has just implemented this payment scheme. Other proposals should be studied and scrutinised and may be upgraded from time to time.

“The study must be made through the Economic Planning Unit and tabled in the Cabinet before any decision can be made,” he said.

In KUANTAN, more than 1,000 claimants crowded around the Kuantan general post office and forced the management to provide extra fans for their comfort.

Pahang Post Office general manager Othman Abdullah said the public had queued outside the post office as early as 7am.

G. Sivapakiam, 54, who had received the rebate, said he was happy with the government’s effort to give the cash rebate to ease people’s burden.

He also commended the post office staff for managing to implement the task in a short notice.

In SHAH ALAM, about 1,000 people had made their rebate claims at the Shah Alam general post office as at 1pm.

Bernama found they had queued outside the post office since 7am and the crowd eased by 10.30am when all 12 counters were opened.

The post office spokesman said there was a 10-minute glitch in the system but the situation was under control thanks to the cooperation of the public and the staff’s swift action.

A special counter for the disabled, senior citizens and pregnant women was also provided, he said.

He also said there were claimants preferring to drop the form in the box provided at the post office and their claims would be processed within seven days.

At Pos Malaysia’s headquarters in KUALA LUMPUR, people had filled the area as early as 7am.

Its counter and stamps division manager Shukri Adan said all counters were opened to serve the public.

Zakaria Kadir, 34, from Batu Caves, said the process did not take too much of his time as there were many counters available.

Meanwhile, the cash rebate payment began at 10.15am at the Petronas Twin Towers post office.

Bank officer Husmar Hadi, 32, said he was happy with the cash rebate but it was far from solving problems caused by the rising price of goods and fuel.

He was also disappointed with public transportation in the city. In MIRI, a commotion erupted at a post office there when several vehicle owners were denied payments and told they were not eligible for the rebate.

An applicant who wanted to be known as Ting said he was shocked when told that he was not the registered owner of the second-hand vehicle he had been using over the past five years.

He said the record an the post office showed the original owner’s name and not his.

Many other second-hand vehicle owners faced the same problem and it was probably due to records at the Road Transport Department not being been updated, he said.

A post office in LIMBANG, about 190km from Miri, was also packed with people who wished to claim the cash rebate.

In IPOH, about 1,000 vehicle owners had received their cash rebates by noon.

Ipoh general post office manager Mohd Azizi Mohd Sanusi said the post office would be opened as usual tomorrow to serve the others who did not manage to get their payment today.

He said about 80 post offices in the city were opened yesterday with 300 staff working at the counters.

“The process was smooth as there was no computer glitch and the time taken for each transaction was less than three minutes,” he added.

In ALOR SETAR, general post office manager Jaafar Abdul Rahman said it had made early preparations for the cash rebate payment including by having 27 extra officers and putting tables to process all the claims.

Government employee Asrul Helmi, 38, said he arrived at the post office at about 8.15am but had to wait for quite a while.

“I thought by coming early, I don’t have to wait so long. I did not expect that it would be so long before my turn finally arrived,” he said.

For Sun Hooi Hong, 53, the RM775 cash rebates he got for his car and motorcycle was worth the two hours’ wait.

In JOHOR, about 80 post offices statewide were opened as early as 7am to serve the public wishing to claim cash rebates.

The unusual crowd also caused traffic congestion.

Trader Mohd Ngah, 66, said he had expected the unusual crowd before driving to the Majidee post office at Kampung Melayu, Johor Baharu.

“At 9.30am, the number had reached 1,500 and still counting but the service was fast and excellent,” he said.

In SEREMBAN, the process was smooth and under control.

The presence of policemen and security guards also helped to prevent any unwanted incidents.

Seremban general post office spokesman said they were doing their best to help the claimants get rebates.

“But in this situation, patience is important,” he said.

In Negeri Sembilan, Pos Malaysia opened cash rebate counters at all its 39 branches.

In JOHOR, about 80 post offices statewide were opened as early as 7am to serve the public wishing to claim cash rebates.

The unusual crowd also caused traffic congestion.

Trader Mohd Ngah, 66, said he had expected the unusual crowd before driving to the Majidee post office at Kampung Melayu, Johor Baharu.

“At 9.30am, the number had reached 1,500 and still counting but the service was fast and excellent,” he said.

In PENANG, the cash rebate payment was disrupted for about half an hour due to a computer glitch affecting the state.

However, no unwanted incident was reported.

Student Aznie Jaafar, 20, said she would use the cash rebate to cover her study expenses.

“It’s good to be given the cash rebate but it would be better if we could get more,” she said.

In KANGAR, hundreds of early customers at the general post office had to wait for more than one hour due a disruption to its electronic system.

The problem was solved by 9.25am.

Several other post offices in Perlis also reported similar disruptions, including in Bukit Lagi and Arau.

In KOTA BAHARU, a total of 2,500 vehicle owners registered to get their cash rebates just an hour after the Jalan Ibrahim post office opened for business.

Pos Malaysia Deputy General Manager (Planning and Operation) Wan Mohd Zain Wan Mamat said all 30 post offices in Kelantan were opened for the public who wished to get the cash rebates today.

Most recipients when met thanked the government for giving the cash rebate.

Sheidah Yusoff, 42, said the cash rebate would definitely help in facing the recent increase in the prices of goods and fuel.

The cash rebate claim process at 26 post offices across MELAKA also went smoothly despite people queuing outside a post office as early as 6.30am.

Melaka Pos Malaysia manager Baharom Said said his staff had made advance preparations to prevent overcrowing at the post offices.

“At 7am, the staff had distributed the claim form to the vehicle owners to avoid backlog at the counters,” he said.

Baharom also said several officers were placed in all 26 branches to monitor the situation.