Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob will be providing aid of a total of RM 500 million to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) starting September 21.
The stimulus package given through the Prihatin Special Grant (GKP) 4.0 is a part of the Economic Recovery Package (PEMULIH) that benefits more than one million citizens.
Ismail Sabri said that a sum of RM 500 will be gifted to them twice, first in September and another in November.
Only businesses who have registered accounts with the GKP system will be recipients after checking their status.
He added, โI hope that this aid will be able to revive the SME sector, which happens to be the engine of economic growth for the Malaysian Family. The government will give priority to industry players because they have been among the sectors most affected during the pandemic.โ
The Bera MP hoped that the aid will benefit small businesses such as food stalls, barbers, workshops, and cake shops will be able to reduce their burden.
A business owner on Facebook wrote that he was unsure if that may suffice. He mentioned that businesses need at least RM 1,500 to RM 2,000 in order for them to pull through the pandemic. The gesture felt like โgiving loose change to beggersโ.
-NIAGATIMES