SHAH ALAM, March 18 — Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had yesterday announced the RM20 billion People and Economic Strategic Empowerment Programme (Pemerkasa) to ease the people’s burden as well as to jump-start the economy.
Muhyiddin said the package also involves an RM11 billion fresh fiscal injection by the government.
Among the key announcements include:
— The government will no longer enforce the blanket movement control order (MCO) nationwide, instead of movement restrictions will only be enforced according to locality and focused on clusters involved
Assistance for the people:
— Micro entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will receive a RM1,000 one-off payment. The application through the Prihatin Special Grant (GKP) 3.0 will open on April 1 for SMEs that did not receive the previous GKP
— Purchase of new motorcycle with a limit of up to RM10,000 for the Tekun Mobilepreneur programme
— The National Employment Council (NEC) will set up 500,000 job opportunities. As at end of February, 66,000 jobs were created
— RM600 one-off cash assistance will be given to homestay operators who are registered with the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac)
— Special discount for electricity bill of up to 10 per cent will be extended for the next three months until June 30
— Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) will be giving free business registration facility to the low-income (B40) group and full-time students from higher education institutions who wish to start their entrepreneurial journey
— A special RM300 subsidy for households with school-going children to purchase smartphones and new devices
— RM500 financial assistance to be given to the B40 group who lost their jobs
— Additional payment of RM500 to receivers of the Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR) with income of RM1,000 and below
— A RM100 million allocation for the kitchen items assistance programme targeting the urban poor
— Total amount of assistance for eBelia increased from RM100 to RM150
