RM1.7 billion allocated, only RM68 million used

 

Economics minister Mustapa Mohamed says a large sum was allocated to help small- and medium-sized enterprises.

JELI: Only 4% of RM1.7 billion allocated for the digital sector through four economic stimulus packages has been utilised, said economics minister Mustapa Mohamed.

Mustapa, who is a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said the government would conduct a study to find out why the utilisation rate of the allocation was so low. Though he did not state the actual amount, a 4% rate amounts to about RM68 million.

“There are several schemes under the stimulus packages that involve RM1.7 billion, which is a large amount allocated by the government to help small- and medium-sized enterprises and micro (enterprises) … but the level of utilisation is relatively small.

“Through several programmes such as the Digital@Jeli programme, we will ask the participants whether they know about the four packages that the government has launched previously,” he said.

He said this to reporters after attending the programme organised by the East Coast Economic Region Development Council and Universiti Malaysia Kelantan at Pondok Moden here today.

Among the four economic stimulus packages for the sector are the SME Digitalisation Grant and the Industry Digitalisation Transformation Scheme, with allocations of RM100 million and RM16 million respectively.

Mustapa also said it was his responsibility to ensure that every government initiative, including the MyDigital-Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint, was known to every community, especially in the rural areas.

“My mission is what we do in Kuala Lumpur, I want to make sure the villagers also know and feel the (benefits),” said Mustapa, who is the MP for Jeli.

On the Digital@Jeli programme, Mustapa said it was a course to help 30 small entrepreneurs earning less than RM3,000 by teaching them to expand their business through digital platforms.

He said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission planned to improve internet access in about 13 areas in the Jeli constituency to help the people in digital business. - FMT