KUALA LUMPUR – A total of RM5.08 billion is being channelled to nearly one million micro small and medium enterprises (SMEs) under Geran Khas Prihatin (GKP) to tide over their difficulties since Covid-19 hit the country, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said.
“The government hopes the direct assistance channelled to the micro SMEs will ease their burden, especially those affected by the implementation of the movement control order (MCO) 3.0,” he said in a statement today.
Under Pemerkasa, which was announced on March 17, he said the government decided to provide RM1,000 under GKP 3.0 to more than one million micro-traders to ensure the continuity of their business, especially in managing their cash flow.
Tengku Zafrul said the government gave a similar commitment under Pemerkasa Plus, which was unveiled on May 31, where an additional RM500 would be disbursed, increasing the total payment to RM1,500 for every micro SME to help each one navigate MCO 3.0.
This means the total payment under GKP 3.0 is RM1.5 billion.
“We are pleased to inform that nearly one million micro SMEs involving existing recipients during MCO 1.0 and MCO 2.0, as well as micro SMEs that have been approved under MCO 3.0, will receive a payment of RM1,000 from June 10 in stages involving financial implications of almost RM1 billion,” he said.
Tengku Zafrul said the payment will be credited directly to the bank account registered in the GKP system, and the approval status can be checked from today on the website.
An additional payment of RM500, involving an allocation of almost RM500 million, will be paid in July, bringing the total amount under GKP 3.0 to RM1.5 billion. – Bernama, June 8, 2021
