Govt to channel RM500mil aid to SMEs from Sept 21, says PM

PETALING JAYA: The government will channel a total of RM500mil to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through the Prihatin Special Grant (GKP) 4.0 beginning Sept 21, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The Prime Minister said that the grant, which is a component of the Economic Recovery Package (Pemulih), will benefit more than one million recipients.

The RM500 aid for the SME will be channelled twice - in September and November.

Ismail Sabri said the aid will be channelled directly into the bank accounts registered with the GKP system and that the status of the GKP 4.0 can be checked at gkp.hasil.gov.my.

He added that so far, RM6.08bil has been channelled to the SMEs under the GKP since the Covid-19 pandemic began.

“I hope that this aid will be able to revive the SME sector, which happens to be the engine of economic growth for the Malaysian Family.

“The government will give priority to industry players because they have been among the sectors most affected during the pandemic.

“With this aid, it is hoped that small businesses such as food stalls, barbers, workshops, and cake shops will be able to reduce their burden,” he said in a statement Friday (Sept 17).

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Aziz said the status of those who applied and then appealed for the Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR) can be checked via bpr.hasil.gov.my from Saturday (Sept 18).

The payments, he said, would be credited into bank accounts registered during the BPR appeals at the end of this month, together with the recipients of the third phase of the BPR.

Tengku Zafrul said that the government has updated the data of the B40 group who are eligible to receive the BPR through appeal applications, which were opened from June 15 to 30.

He added the appeals were verified by the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) to ensure that the aid benefits those who really qualify for it.

“The government hopes that this cash assistance, totalling RM17.1bil until the end of the year, can assist Malaysian families in managing their expenses,” he said in a statement.