RM63 million to help urban poor, traders and hawkers

Noel Achariam Noel Achariam Updated 4 years ago · Published on 25 Mar 2020 3:22PM · 2 Comments

Kuala Lumpur City Hall has closed the Chow Kit market for a day to carry out disinfection. A RM63 million package has been approved to help underprivileged city folk and petty traders. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 25, 2020.

THE Federal Territories Ministry has laid out a plan to the tune of RM63 million to help the urban poor, B40 group, the homeless, petty traders and hawkers, said minister Annuar Musa.

He said cabinet has approved the initiative to help city folk manage the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and movement control order (MCO).

“The aim is to ease the burden of the people with the distribution of aid in the form of food, goods, exclusion of rentals, cash and services for those affected by the outbreak and MCO,” he said at a press conference that was broadcast live on the ministry’s Facebook page today.

He said of the fund, RM54.3 million will be used to help the urban poor, B40 group, homeless people, petty traders and hawkers.

Annuar said RM5.9 million has also been allocated to assist frontline staff such as medical personnel while another RM3.4 million is to help those tested positive for Covid-19 and patients under investigation (PUI). 

He said among the assistance provided is rent exemption for those living in some 40,000 units at people’s housing projects and public housing worth about RM4.96 million. 

“The tenants will be exempted from March rental and for the next two months their rentals have been postponed to a later date.”

He said as for those who bought DBKL units, the government has issued a six-month moratorium on bank loans. 

“Those who took loans under the Federal Territories Foundation will also be exempted for six months.”

Annuar also said there is also a special zakat of RM500 per family for 24,196 families worth RM12.1 million.

He also said there is a RM500 one-off aid for petty traders and hawkers amounting to RM11.8 million. 

There will also be a three-month rental exemption for the 6,000 operators who are renting DBKL premises such as food courts with a cost of RM4.2 million.

In addition rice, flour and sugar will also be distributed to 65,000 families that earn less than RM3,000 in April. 

He said the decision to approve this large allocation proves that the people are facing a very difficult economic and financial situation. 

“The government is very concerned about the difficulties faced by the people, especially the urban poor and the workers who are helping patients and fighting the outbreak daily

“We hope that all Malaysians are united in the war against Covid-19 and comply with all MCO directives.” – March 25, 2020.

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Comments

  • as long the racial goons don't make a racial issue out of this, and some racist have already made racist comments which have gone viral. This govt should take a firm stand on this in order to unite the people in this war against Covid-19

    Posted 4 years ago by Mike Mok · Reply

  • Make sure the money does not end up with the illegal petty traders in Chow Kit. This is the time to give them free passage to Indonesia, Provide them with sampans at the key exit points.

    Posted 4 years ago by Errol samuel · Reply