WHAT is the point of granting Putrajaya emergency powers if it is not used to help the people, Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki asked.

In a Facebook post, the Umno Youth chief was of the view Putrajaya should use the powers it has under the emergency to go all out and help the public.

The emergency powers granted to Putrajaya expire in August but up to now there has been no decision on whether it will be extended.

He said the Council Of Malay Rulers is set to meet on Wednesday and among the matters to be discussed included the Covid-19 pandemic and the emergency.

“What’s the point of the emergency if it can’t help the people?” he asked in the post.

Asyraf said for the remainder of the emergency period, the government could, for starters, alleviate the people’s suffering by ordering the banks to offer an interest-free loan moratorium to everyone, including those in the middle 40 income group.

He said similar arrangements should also be made to allow for Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) savings withdrawal as was done during the first movement-control order in March last year.

“Order the EPF to allow the people to access i-Sinar 2.0 and i-Lestari 2.0,” he said, referring to the programmes.

He also hoped Putrajaya would step up efforts to control the drastic rise in prices of essential goods during the pandemic. – June 14, 2021.