SIBU, Oct 10: Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) has started an online petition to urge the State government to make all small and medium enterprises (SMEs) including microenterprises eligible for the BKSS 7.0 financial aid, and to make the said aid automatic.
Its deputy chairman David Wong in a statement today said the State government should not forget about the microenterprises and newly established business when giving out the RM10,000 financial aid under BKSS 7.0.
In pointing this out, he said that a report from SME Corp Malaysia and Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) revealed that as of 2020, 78.4 per cent of all SMEs in the country are categorised as microenterprises.
Wong noted the Covid-19 pandemic had forced many businesses to retrench their employees and restructure their businesses in order to survive. New businesses established within the last three years have also been badly affected.
He thus questioned why the State government would exclude these businesses from receiving financial iad.
He also questioned why the State government is imposing so many new criteria and is now requiring business owners to file their applications within two weeks’ time if the State government is sincere in providing financial aid to businesses in the State.
“We want the State government and our chief minister to honour his announcement on Aug 4, 2021, that active SMEs, of course including microenterprises, that are registered with Socso (Social Security Organisation) should be eligible for financial aid automatically.”
Wong, who is also the assemblyman for Pelawan, said Sarawak DAP has launched an online petition on Change.org, urging the State government to include all SMEs for the BKSS 7.0 financial aid.
“During the pandemic, we encourage people to only go out when necessary and to avoid crowded places, hence launching our petition online. We hope that Sarawakians, especially the business owners who have been neglected, can come out to voice out their concern and sign our petition.
“With the public’s support, we will be able to bring the rakyat’s voice to the State government and will be able to make changes. Those who are willing to sign the petition can head over to “change.org” and search for the keyword “BKSS”.”
Wong believed that with the support of the people, the State government will have to give in, and more businesses will be able to get the financial aid that they need. — DayakDaily
