Govt considering extending aid to Covid-19-hit traders - Shahidan

 

A move to extend the assistance provided to traders facing hardship in the federal territories such as rental exemptions and reductions will be considered, says Federal Territories Minister Shahidan Kassim

The assistance, he said, is due to end in December.

The minister said he would be discussing with Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob the need to extend the aid.

“We are thinking of next year and to what extent it can be considered,” he said to reporters after visiting Souq Shoppe@Dataran Putra, the largest chocolate sales centre in the Klang Valley in Putrajaya today.

Also present was Putrajaya Corporation (PPj) president Muhammad Azmi Mohd Zain.

He said since the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan are now in Phase 4 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP), the Federal Territories Ministry will provide aid in various forms to rejuvenate the economy.

According to Shahidan, in Putrajaya alone, a total of RM4.78 million had been channelled in the form of contributions, rental discounts and licensing fee exemptions in 2020 and this year, in a move to ease the burden faced by small traders who were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In Kuala Lumpur, Shahidan said his ministry had instructed Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to provide 1,000 lots for new businesses, especially for young traders because the pandemic had affected them most.

In another development, Shahidan said he had not received any complaints on Putrajaya via his personal number 019-4545111 and most of the complaints he received were about problems in Kuala Lumpur.

He said, normally, action will be taken within two hours.

“Many don’t quite understand my portfolio as a Federal Territories Minister because I have received calls from other states requesting for the installation of pipes and meters,” he said, explaining that the line was meant for residents in the federal territories including problems faced by the people.

- Bernama