KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has announced a new RM15 billion relief package to assist the public, businesses and frontliners amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said the package, known as Perlindungan Ekonomi dan Rakyat Malaysia (Permai), comprises 22 initiatives anchored on three main objectives, namely combating the virus, safeguarding the people’s welfare, and supporting business continuity.
The government will, among others, recruit another 3,500 healthcare personnel, on top of the 8,000 hired last year, who will start work at month-end, with an allocation of RM150 million.
Muhyiddin, in a live address this evening, said the Wage Subsidy Programme, currently only for targeted sectors, will be expanded to cover all employers in states under the movement control order (MCO), irrespective of industry.
“For a period of one month, eligible employers will receive a wage subsidy of RM600 for each employee earning less than RM4,000,” he said, adding that the limit on the number of workers for each employer will be increased to 500 from the current 200.
He said private hospitals have agreed to receive and treat both Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 patients to help alleviate the strain on the public healthcare system, with RM100 million allocated by the government for the purpose.
On safeguarding the people’s welfare, Putrajaya assured that the targeted loan moratorium and restructuring of loan repayments will continue to be offered by banks.
“To date, 1.3 million borrowers have applied for and received such assistance, with an approval rate of 95% for individuals and 99% for SMEs,” said Muhyiddin.
He said the Employees Provident Fund has also agreed to provide an advance of up to RM1,000 of the amount applied for under i-Sinar Category 2, for those whose incomes have been slashed by at least 30%.
For the purchase of electronic gadgets, he said, the special tax relief of up to RM2,500 that expired on December 31 last year will be extended by another year.
An extension will also be given for the National Higher Education Fund Corporation loan repayment moratorium, which had been slated to end on March 31.
Meanwhile, a RM24 million allocation has been made available to fund the full contribution under the Social Security Organisation’s Self-Employment Social Security Scheme.
Muhyiddin said the government will expand the RM1,000 Prihatin Special Grant Plus assistance to cover 500,000 SMEs in MCO states and localities, while 300,000 such businesses in other states will receive RM500 each. This grant will cost the government RM650 million.
Also allocated is a one-off RM500 financial assistance for over 130,000 drivers of taxis, school and tour buses, rental cars and e-hailing vehicles, as well as tourist guides, entailing a sum of RM66 million.
Muhyiddin announced a six-month rebate for all Tenaga Nasional Bhd consumers until June 30, at a rate of 2 sen per kilowatt-hour – equivalent to an electricity bill reduction of up to 9%.
A 10% power rebate will be given to six business sectors, namely hotel operators, theme parks, convention centres, shopping malls, local airline offices, and travel and tour agencies, from January to March.
The prime minister said the Temporary Measures for Reducing the Impact of Covid-19 Act 2020, enacted to assist individuals and businesses economically impacted by the pandemic, will be extended to March 31. It was supposed to have expired on December 31 last year.
The full list of assistance available under Permai can be viewed on the government’s Budget 2021 Benefits Portal. – The Vibes, January 18, 2021
