CYBERJAYA – The special e-Pemula cashless transaction scheme is aimed at encouraging cashless transactions among youth, besides lightening the financial burden of Keluarga Malaysia, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He said the programme would empower the digital financial system to ensure the inclusive development of all strata of society and business.
“The government is aware that the younger generation and digital technology are closely linked.
“Known as digital natives, youth play an important role in mobilising the digitalization agenda of Malaysia,” he said when speaking at the launching of e-Pemula at Multimedia University here today.
The e-Pemula programme under Budget 2022 is a e-cash credit incentive of RM150 involving an allocation of RM300 million, expected to benefit two million youths aged 18 to 20 nationwide.
The programme opened eligibility reviews and credit claims on April 11, with those eligible to receive RM150 in the e-wallet of their choice from either BigPay, GrabPay, ShopeePay, or Touch ‘n Go eWallet.
Ismail Sabri said the government is also committed to continue encouraging electronic payment among traders and consumers to create a cashless community.
He said the government is aware that more entrepreneurs and traders including micro, small, and medium enterprises are using e-cash, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Consumers are also getting more confident with e-cash usage via various e-wallets.
“This was proven when e-cash transactions expanded significantly to RM50.5 billion in 2021 compared with RM29.6 billion in 2020,” he said.
He urged all entrepreneurs, especially SMEs, to practise cashless transactions especially in the transition to the endemic phase.
Ismail Sabri said he hoped eligible youths who received e-Pemula would spend wisely and use the RM150 credit to support local traders.
He said it was especially for supporting SMEs so that they could completely recover.
“If more businesses recover, there will be more revenue for the country and more people, especially the B40, can be assisted,” he said.
Ismail Sabri said that apart from financial aid, the government will also implement programmes to empower youth through various other initiatives.
They include the Malaysian Youth Development Academy and the upgrading of several youth and sports complexes, as well as the construction of the first regional youth centre in Malaysia to stimulate more programmes and youth activities.
He said the government has allocated at least RM1.2 billion through Budget 2022 for various initiatives to benefit youth, including the Malaysian Family Student Device initiative to supply tablets to each B40 student at institutions of higher learning.
“Employers who employ apprentices aged 18 to 30 will be given an incentive of RM900 a month for six months, which is an increase from RM800 earlier.
“This is to enable youth to make the recovery agenda in the employment sector a success,” he said.
Apart from that, he said that for youths with an interest in entrepreneurship, the government provides a RM150 million fund through Bank Simpanan Nasional and Agrobank. – Bernama, April 15, 2022
