Johor allocates RM241 mln for Ihsan Johor 3.0 economic stimulus package

JOHOR BAHRU: Johor has allocated RM241 million for the state's economic stimulus package 3.0 (PRE Ihsan 3.0) in its effort to assist those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad said the package, which is implemented to complement the efforts announced by the federal government through PEMERKASA Plus, contained 33 initiatives based on two main thrusts, namely empowering pandemic management and strengthening social security assistance.

Among the assistance is the provision of a one-off grant of RM500 to 19,090 small and medium industry entrepreneurs registered with the local authorities (PBT) such as tenants of premises owned by PBT, night market traders, morning markets, farmers' markets, and hawkers.

"An allocation of RM9.5 million is provided for this and it will be coordinated by the state government secretary's office in the Local Government Division and all local authorities.

Under this initiative, operators of hawkers and stalls outside the local authorities area will also be assisted through applications approved by the district offices," he said on his official Facebook and Makmur Johor Facebook, today.

He said for the tourism sector, some RM1.74 million has been allocated to implement four initiatives, namely RM2,000 aid to 267 registered budget hotel operators, and RM1,000 aid each to 551 registered homestay operators, 60 tourism agencies registered with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, as well as 600 tourist guides in the state.

Meanwhile, Hasni said another four initiatives are expected to reduce the state government's revenue involving RM34.41 million, including extending the exemption of house rent payment under the People's Housing Programme and Government Rented Houses schemes until Dec 31, 2021, involving 8,743 tenants.

The state government is also allowing the deferment of payment for hawker licences or small and medium enterprise (micro) businesses, rental of premises and stalls, and rental of sites at night markets and morning markets until December 31.

Hasni said to ensure the implementation of the initiatives under PRE Ihsan 3.0 meet the targets that have been set, a special committee would be established to coordinate, monitor and report on the status of the implementation and distribution of the assistance.

"This committee will meet at least once every two weeks to get the status of all PRE Ihsan Johor 3.0 initiatives and then report to the people," he said.

All the PRE Ihsan Johor (1.0, 2.0 and 3.0) involved a total spending of RM550.95 million, which is expected to benefit more than 1.5 million recipients.

"The PRE Ihsan Johor is expected to provide relief to the people of Johor who are in need and free us from the shackles of the pandemic," said the Benut assemblyman.

-- BERNAMA