PM pledges aid for flood-hit businesses

The government would provide help for all types of flood-hit business, including retail and stall, to resume their operations.

He said the government would determine the form of assistance to be given to the traders after getting a comprehensive picture of the problems they faced.

The Bumiputera Economic Council (BEC), at a meeting today, discussed the status of the traders and entrepreneurs who were affected by the floods and the aid they would need from the government to resume their business, he said.

"A list will be compiled of all the affected businesses that require help," said Najib, who is also Finance Minister, at the presentation of certificates to the winners of the third and fourth series of the 'Skim Usahawan Permulaan Bumiputera' or Bumiputera start-ups known as Superb, here.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar were also present at the event.

Najib, in his speech at the event, said the BEC meeting chaired by him agreed to provide an allocation of RM50 million as initial funding for the Yayasan Waqaf Malaysia.

The money would be used to implement economic improvement programmes from 2015 to 2019, he said.

The Yayasan Waqaf Malaysia is a national wakaf (endowment) entity established on July 23, 2008, under the Trustees (Incorporation) Act 1952 by the Department of Awqaf, Zakat and Hajj in the Prime Minister's Department.

Najib also announced an allocation of RM15 million by the Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit (TERAJU) to the Sabah BEC Special Committee for the implementation of programmes for capacity development and entrepreneurship financing in 2015.