KUALA LUMPUR – Pakatan Harapan (PH) is accusing the prime minister of taking undue credit for the move to offer three-month interest exemption to affected borrowers in the B50 group, saying it pushed for the move first.
The PH presidential council said it is disappointed that Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob did not acknowledge in his announcement yesterday that the policy was among the reforms agreed to under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the government and opposition coalition.
In fact, it said, the government had rejected the proposal for such assistance for lower-income households when it was first put forward by PH.
“The interest exemption was portrayed in a manner as though it was the government’s idea, when the fact is that it has been PH’s consistent stand for it to be implemented in line with the spirit of the MoU,” the council said in a statement today.
“Without recognising the role of the MoU, this can affect our trust in the government’s sincerity in upholding the spirit of the MoU, and it is also against the concept of Keluarga Malaysia, which is supposed to base every plan on facts and data.”
The statement was jointly signed by PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Upko president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau.
To ensure the suggestion to offer interest exemption to the B50 can be implemented, the PH presidential council said its top leadership had conducted a series of meetings with Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz and CEOs of commercial banks.
“Although there were concerns from the banks initially, after engaging them and sharing our views, the prime minister agreed with our stand, and, in the end, the policy could be implemented.
“The implementation of Item 1.7 of the MoU is a victory for the people,” it said, adding that the coalition welcomes Ismail Sabri’s announcement on the matter.
The council added that PH will keep on playing its checks-and-balances role and continue to raise the voices of the people within and outside Parliament to address the Covid-19 pandemic, economic crisis, and the lives and livelihood of Malaysians.
In his statement yesterday, Ismail Sabri had announced the loan interest exemption for the bottom 50% of households through the introduction of its financial resilience and management Urus initiative.
He had said that the programme was formulated by the banking sector with Bank Negara Malaysia and the Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency.
Other facilities being offered include a reduction of instalment payments for up to 24 months, including a lower interest rate.
“During this period, clients with loans, financing, and personal credit cards without guarantees are also eligible for reduced interest rates to help lighten their financial burden,” the Bera MP had said. – The Vibes, October 14, 2021
