Federal cash assistance under Pemulih will further help needy groups in Sabah, says Hajiji

KOTA KINABALU: The federal government's cash assistance to various groups under the Pemulih package will further boost existing state aid to the people facing hardship during the current Covid-19 pandemic, says Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor (pic).

The Sabah Chief Minister said that the allocation that included a RM10bil fiscal injection was substantial and was what the country needed right now to cushion the impact of Covid-19.

Hajiji said it augured well for the people in Sabah who will also be receiving cash assistance from the state government under the Bantuan Sabah Prihatin 3.0 on top of the Covid-19 Special Assistance (BKC) worth RM4.6bil under Pemulih.

The BKC is expected to benefit over 11 million households, senior citizens and singles in the B40 and M40 categories in the country.

Under Pemulih, B40 households would receive RM500 from the government in August and RM300 in December; while singles will receive RM200 in August.

M40 households would receive RM250 in August while M40 singles would get RM100 in August.

Households categorised in the abject poor bracket would receive RM1,800.

Hajiji said the allocation of RM300,000 to MPs for food basket assistance would go a long way to help affected groups in the elected representatives' respective constituencies.

Hajiji also welcomed the Prime Minister's announcement that Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) will start its mobile banking facilities in Sabah beginning July to give easier access to banking services to people in the rural areas.

The government would be offering a RM18mil fund to local banks to set up 30 Mobile Banks in Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah covering 250 rural localities.

He said the RM150bil Pakej Perlindungan Rakyat dan Pemulihan Ekonomi (Pemulih) announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muyiddin Yassin is a comprehensive stimulus package that will benefit Sabah.

"On behalf of the state government, I congratulate the Prime Minister for the comprehensive stimulus package, which will surely benefit the people and economic sectors in Sabah," he said in a statement on Tuesday (June 29).

According to Hajiji, Pemulih provided improved financial aid across the board to farmers, contractors, SMEs, nursery operators, sports facilities operators, creative arts sector, people with disabilities and the tourism sector, among others.

He said Sabah also welcomed the allocation of RM400mil to boost the nation's vaccine supply and to expedite the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.

Hajiji said the granting of the six-month bank loan moratorium without any condition to all individual borrowers and micro-entrepreneurs showed the sensitivity of the government to the needs of all.

"The move to extend the Job-Seeking Allowance to Sosco non-contributors, especially new graduates, school-leavers and informal sector workers where those who are registered under MyFutureJobs are set to receive at least a RM300 is very significant," he said.