KUCHING – Budget 2022 is Malaysia’s biggest national spending plan yet, but there is nothing “big or attractive” for the Dayak community in Sarawak, said Datuk Janang Bungsu, vice-president of the Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“Budget 2022 has failed to adequately address the needs of the Dayak business community. We need help to recover from the losses of the last two years when all businesses came to a standstill due to the series of lockdowns and movement control orders,” Janang told The Vibes.
“The Dayaks are still struggling to catch up with the other Bumiputera communities in the state and in the peninsula.”
Janang said the Dayak business community had hoped to see the inclusion of stimulus packages, training grants, and special incentive packages for businessmen.
“These provisions and allocations would greatly assist Dayak businesses affected by the impact of the pandemic. But Budget 2022 did not address this.
“Our SMEs and construction and agriculture sectors need stimulus packages to recoup and move forward as most of them are facing cash flow problems and are suffering the lack of resources to spur their businesses on.”
He said small business communities operating homestays, small hotel facilities, and spas need capital to get back on track after being hit by the pandemic in the last two years.
“Some kind of allocation for these small businessmen will certainly help them to start up again.”
However, Janang is glad that the government has agreed to raise the profit ceiling on palm oil products from the current RM3,000 for Sabah and Sarawak to RM3,500, while the levy will be streamlined to 3% – similar to what is observed for the products in Peninsular Malaysia.
He also lauded plans to expand the 5G spectrum’s reach to cover 36% of highly populated areas in the main cities of Sarawak, Sabah, Johor, Penang, and Selangor
“I am also glad there is a special budget for digitalisation for business communities, especially for the SMEs. We hope the Dayak business community will be able to tap into this digital platform to market their product and services. – The Vibes, October 30, 2021
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