PEMULIH a 'lifeline' to lessen people's burden

KUALA LUMPUR: Various parties have described the National People's Well-Being and Economic Recovery Package (PEMULIH) announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday as a much-awaited lifeline to lessen the burden of the people caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali through a Facebook posting said the price hike issue of one to five-kilogramme (kg) bottled cooking oil could be overcome with the implementation of a controlled price scheme based on the crude palm oil (MSM) ceiling price.

"The programme implementation enables the price of non-subsidised five-kg bottled cooking oil to be controlled with its ceiling price not exceeding RM30 per bottle, in fact if MSM price control can be better implemented, there is a chance we can get cheaper five-kg cooking oil," he said.

Mohd Khairuddin said his ministry wants to see the improvement of subsidised cooking oil schemes in the future so that the benefits can reach targetted groups.

Meanwhile, the Dewan Negara Caucus of the People's Well-being Committee said PEMULIH was the best example of how the government considered the people's grievances when all groups including the B40, M40 and T20 were not left out.

Its chairman Datuk Razali Idris in a statement said the caucus hoped the payout system for the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) i-Citra scheme, automatic six-month moratorium, Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR), COVID-19 Special Aid and Food Basket Assistance, would be free of bureaucracy.

"Besides that, Caucus also hopes the allocation of RM300,000 to Members of Parliament (MP), including Opposition MPs to give out food baskets to affected groups in their respective constituencies, will not exclude Senate members," he said.

Malaysian Youth Council (MYC) in a statement expressed hope that PEMULIH would act as a lifeline to the people who are struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Its president Jufitri Joha urged youths to fully utilise the financial aid announced and various other initiatives such as MyFutureJobs and Janapreneur to secure jobs, and to create their own income opportunities and businesses.

"Keep on registering for vaccination to achieve the bigger agenda of flattening the infection curve, so that small and medium enterprises especially, can operate as soon as possible in the second phase of National Recovery Plan," he said

Jufitri said MYC is committed to helping the government and the people through this difficult situation by assisting the various initiatives taken including the Vaccine Support Volunteers (MyVAC) and Youth Mental Health Support Volunteers.

-- BERNAMA