KUCHING: Persatuan Anak Istimewa Sarawak (Perais) welcomes the government’s initiative to increase the maximum salary eligibility limit for recipients of Disabled Workers Allowance (EPC) from RM1,200 to RM1,500.
Perais president Rapelson Richard Hamit pointed out that the government should consider raising the maximum limit to RM2,000 instead, which is above the poverty level in Malaysia.
“This would be in accordance with the current situation whereby income below RM2,000 is below the poverty line and the cost of living is increasing due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The increase of EPC assistance was recently announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin from the Strategic Programme to Empower the People and the Economy (Pemerkasa). This is to help working people with disabilities (OKU) who are affected during this difficult period.”
Rapelson also said the initiative, which involved an allocation of RM26mil, would benefit 5,000 OKU nationwide.
“Moreover, we also support the federal government’s call to provide opportunities for OKU to register and renew their business with the Companies Commission of Malaysia for free as an incentive to venture into business.
“In addition, Bank Simpanan Nasional provides RM25mil under the Special Microcredit Scheme for OKU to venture into business with a financing limit of up to RM50,000 and interest rates as low as three per cent through Pemerkasa.”
