Sarawak allocates another RM104.8m to lessen impact of pandemic

 

The Sarawak government has allocated RM104.84 million to implement the fourth phase of assistance for the people in the state, dubbed Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang 4.0 (BKSS 4.0), to help ease the burden of facing the Covid-19 pandemic.

Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg said today that the BKSS 4.0 would be executed through seven measures until the end of the year, because the recent surge in Covid-19 cases has continued to affect businesses and the people’s livelihood.

“I sincerely hope this further extension of the BKSS until the year’s end will provide much-needed relief for our people who are badly affected by the pandemic,” Abang Johari told a press conference in Kuching today.

Two of the measures involve the continuation of the discounts for the electricity and water supply bills until the year's end, which will benefit 686,847 electricity consumers and 568,247 treated water consumers in the state.

“A discount of 50 percent for rental of (Sarawak) HDC (Housing Development Corporation) houses covering a period of three months from October to December 2020. This assistance is expected to benefit more than 3,200 customers,” he said of the third measure.

Abang Johari said an RM500 one-off assistance, which was previously given out to taxi drivers, school bus and van operators, licensed van operators, and "penambang" boat operators in July would also be extended to e-hailing drivers and driving instructors under BKSS 4.0.

“My (state) cabinet has also decided to extend similar assistance to 2,396 e-hailing drivers and 791 driving instructors in the state, which will cost the Sarawak government RM1.59 million,” he said.

Abang Johari Openg

He said a 50 percent discount for over 10,000 hawkers renting local council markets and stalls would also be extended.

The state government would also continue to provide a waiver of permits and licence fees for petty traders, hawkers, as well as for night market and Tamu market traders under the state’s local authorities.

Additionally, it will continue to waive rentals to small and medium enterprises at premises owned by the state’s government-linked companies or statutory bodies.

“Over the past six months, the GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) government had implemented BKSS 1.0, BKSS 2.0, and BKSS 3.0 worth RM2.55 billion, which have benefitted about 3.08 million people throughout the state,” Abang Johari added.

- Bernama