PM announces RM10b Kita Prihatin package

Muhyiddin says additional aid necessary as people are still facing difficulties during RMCO

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will implement several initiatives and additional assistance under the RM10 billion Prihatin Supplementary Initiative Package (Kita Prihatin) in line with its efforts to boost economic recovery.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the additional package includes the RM7 billion Bantuan Prihatin Nasional 2.0 (BPN 2.0), the RM2.4 billion Wage Subsidy Programme 2.0 and the RM600 million Prihatin Special Grant (GKP).

The Kita Prihatin package targets four main groups, namely the B40 group comprising those who are married or single; M40 group with family and single; local workers in various fields and micro traders in various fields,” he said when announcing the package yesterday.

The package is an extension of previous economic stimulus packages, namely Prihatin, Prihatin SME PLUS and Penjana worth a total of RM295 billion, or about 20% of the nation’s gross domestic product, with an additional fiscal injection by the government totalling RM45 billion.

Muhyiddin said the decision to provide the additional cash handouts under BPN 2.0 was in consideration of the ongoing difficulties faced by the people, as industries such as tourism and aviation are taking a longer time to recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Wage Subsidy Programme 2.0 aims to provide assistance to employers and employees who are still facing difficulties during the economic recovery period, despite the signs of recovery in the job market.

“Under the Prihatin and Prihatin SME PLUS packages, the government provided a total allocation of RM15.3 billion to fund the Wage Subsidy Programme for up to 3.3 million workers.

“As at Sept 11, a total of 2.63 million workers and 321,000 employers have benefited from this Wage Subsidy Programme, involving an expenditure of RM10.4 billion,” he said. - Bernama