BKSS 2.0
KUCHING: Some 65,000 registered small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) in the state have received financial assistance of RM1,500 each under the Sarawakku Sayang Assistance Package Aid 2.0 (BKSS 2.0).
In disclosing this, Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said, in spite of the efforts to cushion SMEs from the impact of Covid-19, there are growing concerns that unlicensed entrepreneurs are unable to benefit from the special financial assistance given by both the federal and state governments under the Bantuan Prihatin Nasional Stimulus Package (BPN) and BKSS.
She said based on a simple survey conducted by the Sarawak Women and Family Development (JWKS), there were three main challenges faced by most women entrepreneurs who have yet to register their businesses.
“First, some do not know how to register their businesses. Secondly, some do not want to register their businesses because they do not want to pay taxes to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB). And thirdly, some could not apply for business permit because they do not have permanent premises address,” she said during a Business Licensing Programme for Sarawak Women Entrepreneurs (#PUWaS) held at Wisma Wanita here yesterday.
Fatimah said the business licensing programme would address the importance of registering businesses among small entrepreneurs who have yet to apply for their business permit.
“Establishing a task force during this pandemic is right on track. The team can assist these unlicensed entrepreneurs, especially women and youth entrepreneurs, particularly on the importance of having business permits.
“They need to be well-informed that having business license is mandatory before they can be able to benefit from any assistance from the government.
“In fact, the task force will also be able to rectify the wrong perception on the issue of paying taxes to IRB. For small entrepreneurs, establishing businesses under the enterprises category would not require them to pay tax to IRB,” she pointed out.
