By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, April 1: The Sarawak government will call for a meeting with the business community and other stakeholders this Friday (April 3) to get their views and suggestions on how to assist them in facing the impact of four weeks of Movement Control Order (MCO) due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Assistant Minister of International Trade and Industry, Industry Terminal and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Naroden Majais said the meeting was crucial to address pressing issues regarding the impact of the MCO on the local business community.
“The Ministry is listening now and is calling for meeting with all business groups, relevant NGOs and agencies to get their views and suggestions on how and what steps we can consider to assist them,” Naroden told DayakDaily today.
He reiterated that whether to use the state’s reserves or not would be up to the state government.
“In my personal opinion, it is up to the wisdom of the government and depending very much on our financial standing as well as on the wisdom of our chief minister and his financial group in the finance ministry.
“But if we have other means of financing or other better alternative and options, which we may have, why should we touch our reserve? Unless we have we no other options or no other choices . But in the meantime we have several other better options,” he said.
The Gedong lawmaker said that the state government was fully aware and concerned with the problems being felt by everybody including the business sectors, particularly the SMEs and the self-employed groups and cottage industries which are the most hard hit.
“My ministry is open to listen to all views and suggestions from all sectors on how best to assist these sectors.
“And both the federal and state governments recently have announced their incentive packages for every sector including the SMEs, including their workers,” he said.
Among the packages include the deferment of loans until the end of September (6 months) meaning those who have loans, would not have to pay their loans until October. This also include discounts of rentals under government agencies, discounts on electricity and water bills, land rents among others.
“All these are meant to reduce the burden by all business sectors so that they will have space to breathe, more savings for capital and cash flow, and may be to lessen their possible losses due to loss of business during this MCO period,” said Naroden.
Naroden was responding to Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen who suggested for the state government to use its reserves to assist SMEs who have lost business due to the MCO.
When contacted, president of the Sarawak Federation of Chinese Associations Datuk Richard Wee confirmed there would be a meeting this Friday and hoped that all stakeholders could find the best solution to assist the state’s business community.
“Whether we have to use our reserves is up to the state government. But as far as I’m concerned, Sarawak has unveiled its stimulus package which will assist all sectors. And whatever we have in the state’s stimulus package, it must be complementary to the federal government’s initiative.
“So, in order to make the stimulus packages work and reach its targets, both the state and federal leaders must work closely to address this pressing issue due to MCO as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic,” added Wee. —DayakDaily
