Shahril: Cash aid inadequate, govt must create jobs, business opportunities

 

Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan has urged Putrajaya to come out with a thorough policy to tackle unemployment in the country.

While noting the Special Covid-19 Assistance (BKC) as a good measure to ease the burden of the people affected by Covid-19, he said more measures should be rolled out as the country is entering the endemic stage.

"The move to expedite the handout of cash assistance is welcomed, but I am sure that the government is aware that cash aid alone is inadequate," Shahril (above) said in a statement yesterday.

"Cash aid, the primary weapon during the pandemic, was seen as a temporary measure. But as we enter the endemic phase, we must recognise that Covid will be with us soon," he said.

"Until when do you want to rely only on cash and EPF withdrawals when the amount of savings is getting smaller?"

Shahril added: "Currently, 4.5 million EPF contributors have less than RM5,000 and once iCitra is completed, it is not impossible that over one million people will have no money left in their accounts.

"To boost the economy, we must come out with a different idea.

"More than 750,000 people are unemployed and most of them are young people. While they do not turn down food aid and cash, but they prefer job opportunities and business opportunities.

"Young people in Malaysia are committed and enthusiastic, there is no substitute for the concept of generating income for their own and for their families."

"Toward that end, I welcome the plan for the safe opening of economic sectors as stated by the senior minister in charge of security and the health minister lately. The details, of course, need to be refined but conceptually it is desirable - towards the endemic phase,” he said.

"While planning the opening, the government must also tackle the unemployment with a thorough policy. I suggest once again the job security scheme or Job Bank, where the government does not expect the private sector to create job vacancies only, but to play a more direct role in creating and funding job opportunities in the short and the medium term.

"On top of that, any effort to create business opportunities must be implemented immediately, such as simplifying bureaucracy that restricts traders and hawkers by cooperating with the local authorities, nationwide," Shahril added.

On Sept 1, Ismail Sabri announced that the BKC would be paid in stages, with phase one payments credited from Sept 6 and expected to be completed by Sept 10, with funds amounting to RM3.1 billion already channelled to the relevant banking institutions for BKC payments. - Mkini