Malaysians hope PENJANA, PRIHATIN can continue

In the face of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Malaysians are asking the government to continue the National Economic Recovery Plan (PENJANA) and the Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package (PRIHATIN) programmes.

Those from low income households and small traders are in great need of assistance and hope that the government will increase the allocation for these programmes to help them to continue living.

Six months on, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hit the country since March, are still very much felt as the country’s economic recovery is still in its early stages.

Private sector employee from Selangor, Abu Haniffah Abdul Halim, said that the programme, especially related to the wage subsidy scheduled to end this month, should continue.

“It feels safer to work when there is a wage subsidy because the salary will continue to be paid by the employer and I can continue working to support my family,” he said.

“Although the pay is not that much but at least I can still work before getting a permanent job,” said Abu Haniffah.

Meanwhile, Helson Tidin, 30, from Kampung Tambuluran, Kudat, appealed for the federal government to listen to their grievances.

He said that the one-off assistance of RM1,600 he received was used to buy daily necessities after being laid off as a labourer and currently he is doing odd jobs and if possible he would like for such assistance to be given out again.

PENJANA and PRIHATIN, worth RM295 billion, among others, aim at helping the people and drive the country’s economy after experiencing a contraction following the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Faris Harun, who runs a shop selling sportswear and cosmetics in Ipoh, also asked the government to continue with the wage subsidy assistance because it helps employers to pay employees’ salaries.

Faris has three employees earning between RM2,000 and RM2,500 a month and received a wage subsidy of RM1,200 for each employee for three months since April and RM600 for each employee for an additional three months until the end of this month.

“The wage subsidy can help employers from deducting workers’ salaries during the Movement Control Order (MCO) as the shop stopped operating for quite a lengthy period due to the pandemic,” he said.

Elsewhere, Asral Abidin, 39, from Sandakan, who works in the tourism sector, is grateful for the wage subsidy but hopes it can continue with an increased amount.

“It is not enough to support the family, as my wife is a full time housewife with three small children and half of my salary has been deducted by my employer,” he said.

The PRIHATIN wage subsidy programme, launched in March, has helped 1.4 million people in the country keep their jobs as well as helping 213,688 employers retain their employees, according to a statement by Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri at the Dewan Negara earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Ramlah Rosilan, 30, from Kampung Sabdi in Semporna, Sabah, expressed her hope that the RM50 e-PENJANA assistance through e-wallet will continue and the amount can be increased to RM100.

“I used the RM50 assistance to pay water bills and buy food,” she said.

-- BERNAMA