Analyst: Permai proves priority given to vulnerable groups

 

The government’s RM15 billion Malaysian Economic and Rakyat’s Protection Assistance Package (Permai) allocation comprising 22 initiatives proves that it gives priority to the most vulnerable groups and has not forgotten them, said Crisis Management analyst Nordin Abdullah.

“For me, it is important that the people are protected... and this responsibility will continue not just for this month but also for the next, during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I think it is the best strategy at the moment to continue to help those who are most vulnerable,” he said in an interview during the 'Midday Update' on Bernama TV today.

Apart from that, Nordin said the government seems to be well prepared for the second movement control order (MCO 2.0) as more economic activities are allowed, compared with MCO 1.0 which saw a massive lockdown.

“This is the first major difference between MCO 1.0 and MCO 2.0... the other is that a lot of things have been learned.

“I would not say there were mistakes, but during MCO 1.0 we have seen what worked and what didn't work. We have been able to implement a different set of standard operating procedures in the economic reality,” Nordin added.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday unveiled the Permai aid package aimed at combating the Covid-19 threat, safeguarding the welfare of the people and supporting business continuity following the implementation of MCO 2.0.

Muhyiddin said the government had, time and again, demonstrated that it would not compromise in ensuring the rakyat’s well-being, business continuity and economic resilience.

He said the Bantuan Prihatin Nasional 2.0 payments involving 11.1 million recipients and a total allocation of RM2.38 billion would be brought forward to Jan 21 onwards.

Permai is the fifth initiative implemented by the government to help the people and protect the economy since the MCO was first implemented in March last year.

The government had implemented the RM250 billion Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package in March 2020 and the RM10 billion Additional Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package in April 2020.

It also unveiled the RM35 billion National Economic Recovery Plan in June last year and the RM10 billion Prihatin Supplementary Initiative Package in September.

- Bernama