By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Jan 21: A total of 174 borrowers of Small and Medium Industries Loan Scheme (SPIKS) will enjoy moratorium extension for another six months until June 2021.
“As a measure to help cash flow and alleviate the financial burden of small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs), the Sarawak government will postpone the SPIKS payments for six months,” said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
This assistance which will benefit 174 borrowers at a total cost of RM0.9 million is one of the 11 measures under Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang 5.0 (BKSS 5.0) announced by Chief Minister via a Zoom press conference today.
Offering more help to SMEs, he said the government is conducting a study to determine the methods of financial assistance and the details of these schemes would be released in due time.
“The government is conducting a study to determine the method of financial assistance and loans to SMEs.
“The Ministry of International Trade under the Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan will release details on the assistance in the near future,” said Abang Johari.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, the Sarawak government had rolled out four packages of BKSS with total expenditure of RM2.55 billion to benefit all strata of the society.
With the worsening situation of the pandemic, the Sarawak government today released the fifth financial assistance package amounting to RM405 million.
Among other measures in the package include 5 to 25 per cent discounts on monthly water and electric bills; 50 per cent discount on market and stall rentals; payment exemption of permit and trading, hotel and homestay licenses; rental exemption for SMEs operating in premises owned by statutory bodies and state GLC companies as well as postponement of premium land payments. — DayakDaily
