Govt’s RM65 bil Covid-19 allocation not enough: Guan Eng

BUTTERWORTH – The country has reportedly allocated some RM65 billion in stimulus packages to fight Covid-19, but it is inadequate, according to Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng.

The DAP secretary-general said that the federal government needs to pump in at least RM45 billion more to protect the economy and save lives during this pandemic.

The former finance minister and Penang chief minister said that previous stimulus packages have failed to meet the people’s expectations as their suffering has now doubled.

“Each time I visit my constituents, I am informed that they need help because of Covid-19’s adverse impact on public healthcare and the economy.”

Lim said that he has issued repeated pleas to the federal government, but they have fallen on deaf ears as the government may not be able to see or feel the hardship of the average person.

“But if we move on the ground, we will know the reality of the situation,” Lim said in a Facebook post today.

Lim said he also hopes that the food packages provided by the state government were adequate to meet the needs of those who have lost their jobs and are going hungry during this pandemic.

Earlier, Lim also urged the government to urgently provide financial help in the form of an automatic bank loan moratorium, except for top 20 income earners.

He said that another RM35 billion is needed as a direct financial aid package to save jobs, livelihoods, and businesses, particularly small- and medium-scale enterprises.

“Will the government rise to the challenge and offer an automatic bank loan moratorium and RM45 billion fund injection as required, or will they continue to disappoint until our growth prospects for this year dwindle and disappear?” Lim asked.

In another development, Penang PKR liaison vice-chairman Jason Ong Khan Lee said that vaccines should be made available to those who can afford to purchase them and be inoculated.

This approach will fast-track the national immunisation programme where in Penang, only 13% of the population have received shots, he said. – The Vibes, June 26, 2021