INCORRECT or incomplete information on application forms is why 77.7% of the state’s small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) were rejected for aid under the Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang (BKSS) 7.0 scheme, Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg said today.

The Sarawak leader said the government received 12,809 applications for the RM10,000 financial assistance last year. 

But 9,955 applications, or 77.7% of them, were incomplete or inaccurate.

“The rejection was not from man but from the computing system. So payments could not be made,” he said in Kuching today.

Abang Johari said an evaluation committee had identified 22,110 SMEs and 24,322 micro-businesses in Sarawak that are eligible for the assistance.

State Economic Planning Unit officers are in contact with the unsuccessful aid applications to guide them through the process of filling out the forms and submitting the supporting documents.

The verification process is ongoing even till now, he said.

So far RM20.6 million has been disbursed, he added.

Abang Johari assured eligible SMEs that they will be paid.

The chief minister today announced the eighth instalment of the state’s financial and economic assistance (BKSS 8.0) to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on businesses in the state.

The eighth instalment is worth RM285.47 million.

Abang Johari said the state will offer electricity and water bill rebates until June, as well as a 50% discount on rent for Sarawak Housing Development Corporation properties.

Other measures are rent exemption for SMEs operating on business premises belonging to state corporations and government-linked companies, and incentive payments for river boat operators, registered passenger van owners, taxi drivers and operators of buses, including school buses.

Electricity discounts of up to 25% will benefit 647,000 consumers and will cost the state government RM166.8 million, he said.

Water rebates of up to 25% will benefit as many people and cost the state RM24 million. – January 28, 2022.