There's A Meme Hidden In This Fake 'RM750 Bonus Rakyat' Message But People Think It's Real
The message, which went viral last year, is making rounds on social media again.
By Tang Ruxyn — 25 Apr 2017, 12:20 PM
A message about a special RM750 scheme has been circulating on messaging apps lately
In a chain message that has been going viral on messaging apps like WhatsApp and other social media platforms, recipients of the message were told to sign up for a 'Bonus Rakyat Pulau Pinang' using a link that was included in the message, to obtain RM750 each from the state government.
The message alleged that application is only open to Penangites aged 16 to 55 years old.
It appears that there has been a surge in the number of people who received such messages from their friends and family, although there were slight variations in the copy.
The names of the alleged bonus schemes were changed accordingly with the different states such as Selangor, Johor and Kedah.
However, these messages are actually hoaxes
A simple click on the "link" provided in these messages directs recipients to a file image. The image is a meme with the words: "YES! KENA TIPU. HAHA" (YES! GOT CHEATED! HAHA)
Nevertheless, people kept forwarding the messages.
It definitely looks like these messages are a prank, but the respective state governments are not amused by it
The Selangor state government has issued a statement through its official media, Selangorkini recently, refuting claims that such a programme exists.
It stated that the messages are aimed at deceiving the people in the state with claims it is one of the programs implemented by the Selangor state government.
Meanwhile, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, has also denied that the Kedah state government is giving out RM750 assistance to the people in Kedah to celebrate Ramadan.
"For me, it is a naughty message from people who have run out of ideas to attack the government administered so well by Barisan Nasional (BN) now," he said in a statement last Friday, 21 April.
Members of the public have been urged to ignore such messages and always refer to the authorities to verify such information first.
This hoax is apparently not new as such messages have been circulating for some time now
Last year, Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau, had rubbished claims that the Sarawak state government was offering the Bonus Rakyat 1 Sarawak (BR1S) in conjunction with the state election in May 2016.
It was alleged that Sarawakians aged between 16 and 55 years could apply for BR1S, whereby each successful applicant is entitled to get RM750.