KUALA LUMPUR – The government remains committed towards finding effective mechanisms to help those who have been adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said throughout the Covid-19 crisis, the government has continued to channel direct cash assistance to affected groups.
“There is a balance of RM8.1 billion that will be distributed until the end of this year, which includes the Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat payment (RM4.5 billion) and the monthly social welfare assistance (RM1.25 billion),” he said during a virtual press conference today.
He added that RM16.7 billion has also been allocated as direct cash assistance for the entire year, while other forms of assistance are still being implemented.
Tengku Zafrul said the government’s latest initiatives have received a favourable response, citing the Jaringan Prihatin device and data subsidy programme launched in May, which approved 1.7 million applications, while also providing new phones to 500,000 applicants.
Meanwhile, the e-Belia programme which was launched in June has benefited 1.9 million youth so far by allowing each of them to redeem RM150 in e-wallet credits.
“The government also remains committed to ensuring business continuity by allocating about RM14.1 billion in cash assistance for the business sector for 2021, and one million SMEs will receive their Prihatin Special Grant at the end of this month and in July,” he said.
Tengku Zafrul said the Wage Subsidy Programme still has a balance of RM6 billion to be channelled by the government to guarantee the wages of some 2.7 million workers affected by the pandemic.
In line with the gradual reopening of the economy, he said the government will also focus on micro-lending programmes to help SMEs restart their businesses.
At the same time, the subsidy for indirect assistance has reached RM15 billion for this year, compared to RM9 billion in 2020.
With the rise in global oil prices, he said the government has reduced the impact of the rising cost of living.
“This includes setting the retail ceiling price of RON95 at RM2.05 per litre as well as providing subsidised cooking oil at RM2.50 per 1kg pack.
“From January-May, the government has incurred RM4 billion in expenditure in terms of allocations for subsidies for this year,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, Tengku Zafrul said the government is taking the targeted moratorium approach instead of the blanket moratorium approach.
On the country’s economic outlook, the minister said the economic growth will be in positive territory compared to the negative growth registered last year. – Bernama, June 20, 2021
