THE Social Security Organisation (Socso) has approved RM9 billion under the wage subsidy programme as of July 31, 2020, which has been channelled to more than 2.6 million workers affected by Covid-19, said Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz today.

“Socso has also uploaded the names of employers who have received the wage subsidy.

“This action was taken following complaints received from the public that a handful of employers who received the subsidy were still laying off employees or imposing pay cuts without their employees’ consent,” he said in a statement today, reporting on the Prihatin economic stimulus package and national economic recovery plan (Penjana).

Tengku Zafrul said the Tekun business recovery scheme had approved 1,810 applications for a combined total of RM13.3 million as of July 31, 2020.

From which, he said RM6.8 million had been disbursed to 900 micro, small and medium enterprises.

Meanwhile, he said 7.44 million people have received RM50 in their e-wallets as of August 7, an ePenjana initiative, aimed at helping eligible Malaysians as well as boosting consumer spending through the RM50 credit-match incentives.

It was launched on July 31, 2020 in collaboration with the MySejahtera Covid-19 contact tracking mobile application and three leading e-wallet service providers: Boost, GrabPay and Touch ‘n Go eWallet.

Tengku Zafrul also reminded the public the tax incentive for car purchases was still available, giving a 100% sales tax exemption for locally assembled cars and 50% for imported cars, from June 15 until the end of the year.

“This initiative is aimed at revitalising the automotive industry by encouraging car sales.

“According to a report released by the Malaysian Automotive Association, total sales in June 2020 were 5% higher than in the same month in 2019, and this is a positive development in line with this initiative,” he added. – Bernama, August 11, 2020.