Huazong proposes 'consumption coupons' for those without e-wallet
KOTA KINABALU: The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) has proposed that the government issue consumption coupons to better compliment its ‘e-credit initiative' to help the people, as well as to stimulate economic recovery.
Its president Tan Sri T.C Goh reckoned that such a move would allow the government to better reach the masses, especially the underprivileged group of Malaysians who are living in the rural areas who have no means to download the e-wallet application.
He noted that on June 5, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that, starting this month, Malaysians will receive RM50 worth of ewallet credit to encourage safe and contact-free payment, an initiative under the Penjana Economic Recovery Plan.
He said this initiative worth RM750 million would benefit about 15 million Malaysians, especially those under 18 years old and those whose annual income is below RM100,000.
Goh also hoped that the government would consider increasing the quantum of the said initiative, from the existing RM50 to RM100 or RM200, in order to better help the people, especially those underprivileged and vulnerable groups of Malaysians who are currently experiencing tremendous economic hardship due to the devastating and far-reaching impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the three-month long movement control order (MCO).
In a statement issued yesterday, he said the proposed issuance of consumption coupons is worth considering, as there is still a vast section of Malaysians, senior citizens especially, who are not well-versed with the use of smart phone hence would have difficulty to download the e-wallet application to receive the RM50 e-wallet credit.
A recent survey indicated that presently e-wallet is still not popular among Malaysians, with only 40 percent of subscribers.
“Although one of the main objectives of issuing the RM50 e-wallet credit is to encourage safe and contact-free payment, the government should be more considerate of the current economic hardship experienced by the vast majority of the masses due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and strive to make its relief aids more accessible to the people,” he said.
He thus proposed that the government besides crediting the said e-wallet credit to qualified Malaysians who have an ewallet, to also consider issuing ‘consumption coupons' to cover those who are without one, so that they would not be excluded from such a noble initiative.