Boost aid for SMEs to save jobs – FCAS
KOTA KINABALU: The Federation of Sabah Chinese Associations (FCAS) has hoped that besides taking care of the middle and lower income and vulnerable groups, the State government could also through the State Budget 2021 ramp up the much-needed assistance for the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the state.
Its president, Tan Sri T.C Goh, said such a move is crucial towards helping them to stay afloat and to get through this pandemic-induced trying time. Currently, besides an estimated of more than 50,000 SMEs, Sabah also has a huge number of selfemployed individuals.
He opined that besides the various aids provided by the Federal government through its latest Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR) scheme, the people of Sabah should also be receiving more practical and direct assistance from the State government.
“It is rather important and necessary for the government to strive to save the SMEs and businesses as it is equivalent to saving jobs for the people,” he underscored.
Goh who is also the President of The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong), expressed this while commenting on the two-day State Legislative Assembly sitting which ended on Monday, in which the Second Supplementary Supply 2020 Bill for an additional RM709.6 million allocation to the state budget was voted through.
The state approved in April the First Supplementary Supply 2020 Bill for an additional RM533 million under the previous Warisan Plus government.
Goh thus hoped the State government could through its coming Budget 2021, scheduled to be tabled on Dec 18, bring some good news for the business sector.
“It is an undeniable fact that those dependent on industries like tourism, transportation, food and beverages, and selfemployed have been worst-hit and are desperately in need of assistance,” he said.
Meanwhile, he welcomed the State government’s move to provide rebates on house assessment, rental for hawker’s stall, and waving of trading licence fee through the local authorities and district councils. He hoped such a measure could be extended until the pandemic is over and the economy is fully recovered.
He was delighted to note that the State government is channeling about half of the additional RM709.6 million allocation, or an equivalent of RM375.12 million, for Covid-19 reliefs; out of this amount, RM160 million will be used to assist the people through the Prihatin aid package.
Goh also commended the State government for ramping up aid for the B40 and vulnerable groups. This include waving rental for those occupying hardcore poor PPRT housing, proving living allowances and food aid to single-parent household, senior citizens and orphans, farmers and fishermen, oil palm and cocoa smallholders, rubber tappers and poultry farmers, tour guides, porters, those involved in arts and creative works, drivers, students and hawkers.
He however hoped that the State government could better complement and enhance the Federal government’s effort, to provide more significant and more practical assistance to the business sector in the state.
He cited for example, such assistance could be further amplified in the forms of higher rebate for trading licenses, tax relief for commercial land, quit rent, water charges etc, which come under the jurisdiction of the State government and the local authority.
“Besides this, both the domestic sector and manufacturing sector too should be given rebates for electricity consumption, preferably for a period of six months,” he added.
Goh also hoped that the State government could strive to better position Sabah to benefit from a host of national and regional economic grand schemes that are currently in place. This includes the Malaysia Industry 4.0 program and 2030 Shared Prosperity Vision, the ‘Belt and Road’ Initiative, the recently launched Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and Sabah’s very own Sabah Structure Plan 2033.
Chief Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor said the Sabah Budget 2021 will among others focus on efforts to revive the state economy and redevelop sectors affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said the state government was committed to ensuring that every planning and priority outlined in the budget would be able to push Sabah forward next year.
Hajiji added the Budget 2021 for Sabah will also focus on streamlining the state government’s administrative machinery further to ensure that all planned development framework are implemented more efficiently.