latest RM20 billion government stimulus package known as Strategic Programme to Empower People and the Economy appears to include various groups which have been adversely affected by the pandemic and still searching for means to weather the unprecedented crisis.
Some studies revealed that households have had to readjust their spending on basic necessities because of unfortunate circumstances such as income reduction or job losses. These are some of the worrying issues that have become more evident and more serious because of the Covid-19 crisis. As Malaysia is currently in the recovery phase and more economic sectors have been allowed to operate, it appears appropriate to make it targeted to the struggling sectors as announced – tourism, wholesale and retail trade or any other businesses which had to be shut during MCO like gyms and spas.
This explains more one-off cash aids that will be distributed to the less-privileged households which are the recipients of Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat – RM500 to B40 households which lost their jobs and additional RM500 to eligible recipients earning RM1,000 and below.