MALAYSIANS can enjoy tax incentives when they buy locally made or imported cars for four more months, said Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.

He said the Finance Ministry under Budget 2022 had extended the car sales tax incentive exemption period until June 30 to encourage car ownership, stimulate local economic growth and drive automotive sector development.

“Under Budget 2022, the car sales tax exemption remains the same as before, that is, 100% sales tax exemption on locally assembled passenger cars.

“Meanwhile, a sales tax exemption of 50% is given to foreign-assembled passenger vehicles (CBUs), including MPVs and SUVs, new imported CBUs and used imported CBUs,” he said in Laporan Kewangan Rakyat released today.

He also said the government had channelled a total of RM20.35 billion to 357,530 employers through the Wage Subsidy Programme to maintain the employment of 2,953,820 local workers in an effort to reduce the unemployment rate among Malaysian workers.

Tengku Zafrul said that as of February 11, a total of RM17.44 million had been channelled to 1,744 employers to continue operating and maintain the employment of 29,065 workers.

For the Indian Community Entrepreneur Development Scheme, as of February 18, RM21.72 million had been successfully channelled to 902 micro, small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The scheme is a strategic government initiative under Tekun to help the Indian community improve the economy through involvement in business and entrepreneurship.

“Those in the Indian community who want to venture into business and entrepreneurship as well as those who want to further develop their existing business, the value of financing channelled is from RM1,000 to RM100,000 for each entrepreneur according to qualification,” he said.

The repayment period of the financing is up to 120 months (10 years) at a rate of 4% per annum. This programme has been given an allocation of RM20 million, of which RM5 million is from Budget 2021 while an additional RM15 million is from the Permai package and is continued for this year.

Meanwhile, under the National Economic Recovery Plan, the government has also allocated RM700 million to assist and encourage SMEs and medium-tier companies towards the digitalisation of operations and trade channels.

As of February 11, a total of RM91.8 million had been channelled to 13,891 businesses in the form of grants and loans for subscriptions to digitalisation services. – Bernama, February 25, 2022.