By Karen Bong
KUCHING, May 8: The Sarawak government is allocating an additional RM750 for hawkers and petty traders registered with local authorities through Sarawak Pay in its Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang (BKSS) 3.0.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg made the announcement today at the launch of the economic package introduced to help those who the Sarawak government might have neglected in its BKSS 1.0 and BKSS 2.0 packages.
“In BKSS 2.0, I have announced the special grant of RM1,500 to hawkers and petty traders registered with Local Authorities in two tranches to be paid in May and July 2020 respectively.
“I am pleased to announce that the Sarawak Government will provide additional special grant of RM750 to hawkers and petty traders registered with Local Authorities, which will be paid in September 2020.
“With this additional grant, each hawker and petty trader will receive a total grant of RM2,250 under this measure. I hope this measure will ease the burden of the hawkers and petty traders that are badly affected by COVID-19 pandemic,” said Abang Johari.
He said this additional assistance will cost the Sarawak Government RM48.75 million.
The Abang Johari’s administration has announced the BKSS 1.0 on Mar 23, 2020 to combat the devastating effect of Covid-19 pandemic.
This first economic package which is valued at RM1.15 billion has been introduced to help the low and medium income groups in Sarawak, on top of the stimulus package known as Prihatin Package announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Mar 27.
Following the announcement of BKSS 1.0, many small and medium entrepreneurs as well as petty traders also raised that their needs that their livelihood has been as badly affected due to the implementation of movement control order (MCO) where all businesses were asked to put on hold to effectively combat Covid-19.
Subsequently, BKSS 2.0 valued at RM1.1 billion was announced on April 10, where special attention was given to these struggling businessmen and traders. — DayakDaily
