A NATIONWIDE full lockdown or a repeat of a complete movement-control order (MCO) is unlikely, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said today, when unveiling a new RM20 billion economic stimulus package to help those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The government will only implement full MCOs by locality or to curb certain Covid-19 clusters,” said Muhyiddin in a live telecast today.

“The strategy to curb Covid-19 will be targeted and based on science and data to reduce negative impact on economic activities.

“And taking into account the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, the government is unlikely to implement the MCO nationwide or over an entire state,” he said.

On the RM20 billion economic stimulus, named Pemerkasa, Muhyiddin said RM11 billion will be in the form of a fiscal injection.

Pemerkasa will also have 20 strategic initiatives.

This includes speeding up the immunisation programme with an additional RM2 billion allocation to the current RM3 billion budget.

“This can speed up the immunisation target to December 2021, instead of the initial target of the first quarter of 2022,” Muhyiddin said.

To meet the manpower requirements, he said 15,000 workers will be assigned to the 950 vaccination centres throughout the country. 

The government will also extend the RM200 monthly allowance to those involved in the immunisation programme.

The other initiatives under Pemerkasa are as follows;

• Stricter enforcement of the laws passed under the Emergency Ordinance to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic
• A tax allowance will be given to companies that provide accommodation to their employees. The tax allowance is subject to approval under the International Trade and Industry Ministry under the Safe@Work initiative. The tax allowance is limited to RM50,000.
• The government has raised the budget for small-scale projects by RM2.5 billion to RM5 billion. The budget is for G1-G4 contractors for upgrading infrastructure and public faculties.
• Micro businesses and SMEs can get RM1,000 each for restarting their businesses 
• The government will allocate an additional RM500 million for micro credit financing programmes under BSN, Tekun, MARA and SME Corp. 
• The government will allocate an additional RM700 million for the Wage Subsidy Programme 3.0 for three months. It has also allocated another RM300 million for the rehiring scheme under Perkeso.
• To help the tourism sector, the government will extend tourism tax and service tax exemptions for hotel operators until December 31, 2021.
• A tax exemption of RM1,000 will be given to individuals who buy tourism packages through agents registered with the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry.
• One-off RM3,000 payment for tourism agencies registered with the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry.
• One-off RM600 payment for homestay operators registered with the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry.
• 10% discount off electricity bills for hotels, theme parks, convention centres, shopping malls, airline offices, and tourism agencies for an additional three months until June 30, 2021.
• Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat recipients to get additional RM120 subsidy for the purchase of smartphones. 
• A one-off payment of RM500 for B40 and BPR recipients (earning less than RM1,000) who have lost employment. – March 17, 2021.