KUCHING: The Sarawak government should consider filling in the void in the federal government’s Malaysian Economic and Rakyat’s Protection Assistance Package (Permai), that is, the wage subsidy scheme which is only applicable to states under the movement control order (MCO).
“I hope that our State government can consider providing the wage subsidy scheme for Sarawak-registered companies, especially the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) who have been heavily impacted by the prolonged pandemic,” said Federation of Kuching, Samarahan and Serian Divisions Chinese Associations president Datuk Richard Wee.
He said such assistance would go a long way to assist companies in keeping their staff employed and also in sustaining their businesses.
“Overall, it is a much-needed assistance to all strata of the community,” he said yesterday.
Wee welcomed the initiatives announced by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg under the RM405 million Sarawakku Sayang Special Assistance 5.0 (BKSS 5.0) package.
“This announcement is most welcome especially for the sectors that are most in need of assistance.”
He said BKSS 5.0 would be appreciated particularly by the low- and middle-income segments, which he believed was the government’s intended target.
The BKSS 5.0 package comprises 11 initiatives, including extended utility discounts, 50 percent discount for market and stall rentals for six months, 25 percent discount on assessment rates over RM400 for residential premises, commercial, industrial and special holdings premises until June, among others.
