KUCHING, May 29: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Backbenchers Club has lauded Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg for promptly coming up with an economic assistance package to help Sarawakians weather the financial impact of a second Movement Control Order (MCO) which came into force today.
GPS Backbenchers Club in a press statement today also conveyed their gratitude to the Chief Minister, saying that this is a reflection of a State government that is fully concerned on the plight of the people and it showed that GPS wastes little time in ensuring the welfare of the people amid the total lockdown.
“It is a hallmark of a government that listens, a government that serves and a government that cares,” it said.
It was in response to the announcement by Abang Johari on the RM1.4 billion Sarawakku Sayang Special Assistance (BKSS) 6.0 on Friday (May 28).
The GPS Backbenchers Club noted, the assistance given, among others include cash aid for B40s, six months’ allowances for frontliners, hawkers and petty traders, e-hailing drivers and tourism industry players.
It said BKSS 6.0 also introduced discounts to water and electricity bills, assessments rates and rental to eligible recipients.
The new BKSS 6.0 package, GPS Backbenchers Club pointed out, is viewed as being all-encompassing while at the same time, the previous assistance under BKSS 5.0 announced in January would continue to be in effect.
“With the RM1.4 billion package, this took the government’s expenditure for BKSS 1.0 to 6.0 to more than RM4.5 billion.
“While this is no small amount, the challenge that we face presently is, by all accounts, not small. We hope that this, to some extent, will help Sarawakians cushion the blow of the MCO which is implemented to bring down Covid-19 cases to a manageable level,” it added.
On the same note, GPS Backbenchers Club assured that the State government under GPS would continue to serve the people of Sarawak during the pandemic and called for the cooperation from all Sarawakians to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the State.
“Through the efforts of the frontliners and the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), containing the rapid spike in Covid-19 cases is possible.
“The onus is on the people to play their roles and do their part in our fight with Covid-19. It is not only the frontliners and the SDMC doing the fighting, it is on us too,” it said. — DayakDaily
