KUCHING, Oct 22: Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers’ Association (Sheda) Kuching chairman Datuk Sim Kiang Chiok hopes for relaxation in income and cooperate tax collection as the nation continues to deal with fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic.
He asserted the reduction of tax rates by the federal government could help all businesses in the current low volume business environment.
In stating this, he added his hopes for the extension of time for most contracts involving development projects in the country until the end of December 2020 instead of the previous deadline of Aug 31.
“(We also wish for the government to) extend additional funding for more SME (small and medium enterprises) loans at low interest rates so that more companies can be assisted in this ‘start stop’ business environment.
“On the state budget which is also in November, the wishlist is that the state government will extend the Sarawakku Sayang cash assistance for the B40 and M40 (groups), the self-employed, small traders, hawkers and priming our state economy with more infrastructure, telecommunication, public transport and modern agricultural works,” he disclosed in a statement today.
Seeing that no immediate cure or vaccine for Covid-19 is to be found yet, Sim also wishes for the extension of wage subsidies and the re-introduction of carpet bank loan repayment moratoriums until March 2021.
With that, he said the government must help the people in striking the balance between their lives and livelihoods in these unprecedented times.
“The most perfect plan is when it can accommodate all eventualities.
“Our economy assistance against the (Covid-19) pandemic must be able to be adjusted to take into account of the third and subsequent waves to assist all Malaysians against all eventualities until an effective cure or vaccine is found,” he opined.
He added that both federal and state governments will have to unite in the face of the novel coronavirus because the ‘invisible enemy’ does not choose sides to strike down. — DayakDaily
