KUALA LUMPUR, APRIL 9 — The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) today said that some MPs who were reported as Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) aid recipients had automatically received them based on their 2018 tax records.

In a statement today, the taxation agency said it would appreciate if those MPs were to return the cash handout they have received.

"IRB would like to clarify that for the BPN payments as previously announced, recipients are automatically approved based on Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH) data, and the IRB 2018 taxation year data.

"IRB’s initial checks found that the process to select BPN recipients was orderly and those who were approved, had a taxable income level within the range of eligibility for BPN,” it said.

The IRB said that it appreciated the gesture from several MPs who had returned the fund received, voluntarily.

"Should any MPs or BPN recipients would like to return the BPN payment, the recipients may do so according to the following procedures,” it said.

The agency said that those who wish to refund must write a letter stating their rejection, together with their full name and identification card number, attach a bank draft of cheque addressed to the Accountant-General stating the refunded amount, and address it to the Ministry of Finance at: Pejabat Belanjawan Negara Kementerian Kewangan Malaysia Presint 2, 62592 Putrajaya.

On Monday, Malaysiakini reported that Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, was found to be eligible to receive RM800 under the BPN programme.

Former Youth and Sports deputy minister Steven Sim also posted on his Facebook that he was listed as an eligible recipient, and had received the RM1,000. However, he said that he had returned the money back to the government.

Former two-term Jelutong MP, Jeff Ooi had also posted the names of several other lawmakers, who he said were also found to be eligible for the aid, ranging between RM500 and RM1,000.

He listed Senator Lim Hui Ying who is also DAP MP Lim Kit Siang’s daughter, Sri Delima state assemblywoman Syerleena Abd Rashid, Pulau Tikus state assemblyman Lee Chun Kit, and Pengkalan Kota state assemblyman Gooi Zi Sen as the recipients.