By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, May 28: The Sarawak government will provide a special grant of RM1,500 to hawkers and petty traders registered with the local authorities.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the payment of the special grant will be disbursed twice to hawkers and petty traders, once in July and the second payment in December through SarawakPay.
“Hawkers and petty traders are the group who are the most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Thus, the Sarawak government will provide a special grant amounting to RM1,500 to hawkers and petty traders who are registered with the local authorities.
“It will be disbursed twice, RM750 in July 2021 and RM750 in December 2021 through SarawakPay,” he said during a press conference in conjunction with the announcement of Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang (BKSS) 6.0 at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here today.
Abang Johari revealed that the special grants to hawkers and petty traders will incur an expenditure of more than RM97.5 million from the Sarawak government.
He emphasised that the Sarawak government has extended the BKSS 6.0 to sustain the livelihoods of the people impacted by the Movement Control Order (MCO) and the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO).
Abang Johari, who is also Finance and Economic Planning Minister, revealed that a total of 15 measures will be implemented under BKSS 6.0 with nine measures involving cash incentives and six measures on discount incentives.
He disclosed that the 15 measures under BKSS 6.0 will incur an expenditure of RM1.4 billion on the Sarawak government including ongoing measures that have been taken to reduce the burden and assist the people in the current trying times.
The State government, Abang Johari reiterated would continue to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of the people.
“Together with my colleagues in Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), we will continue and are committed to work hard to serve our people,” he added.
Meanwhile, the GPS government had spent a total of RM3.1 billion in rolling out five BKSS packages since the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020 and the implementation of various phases of MCO.
Among those who were present at the press conference were Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing and Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan. — DayakDaily
