KUCHING, June 20: A total of 7,131 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and micro-enterprises that applied for special assistance under Bantuan Sarawakku Sayang (BKSS) 7.0 and 7.0 Plus are still being assessed by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) Sarawak as of May 31.
In a statement today, Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government II Michael Tiang said these applicants include owners with multiple businesses in which further assessment is needed due to technical issues.
“For example, some of them submitted bank account information which does not match their companies’ registration names or maybe some have multiple companies.
“Basically, EPU will continue to make assessments and iron out some of the technical issues with the applicants, and once all requirement is fulfilled, the assistance will be disbursed to them immediately,” he said.
EPU director Datu Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel and his team informed him of the BKSS disbursement progress after a briefing session held at Deputy Premier Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian’s office in Wisma Bapa Malaysia today.
Tiang, also Pelawan assemblyman, said EPU had constantly communicated with applicants to address technical issues such as incomplete documents, information errors, and many others.
He also said 10,696 recipients (companies) had received the assistance, while 6,490 were not eligible as they had failed to fulfil the criteria.
“Since BKSS 7.0 and 7.0 Plus applications closed on March 18, that does not mean that BKSS will not be disbursed anymore after March 18.
“It only means that after March 18, no new applications will be accepted,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Tiang said Dr Sim had brought the matter to the Premier’s attention after finding out that payment could not be made to eligible companies due to technical issues.
According to him, during Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Triennial Delegation Conference (TDC), Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg agreed to allow the applications for these companies to be re-assessed.
He added that on the second last day of the previous Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting, SUPP assemblymen visited the Premier and brought up the issue again.
“Again, he allowed all these ‘outstanding’ companies or applicants to be assisted in ensuring that they can get the assistance they needed,” he said. — DayakDaily
