KUALA LUMPUR: Pertama Digital Bhd (PDB) hopes to see more initiatives put forward for small and medium enterprises (SME) and micro small and medium enterprises (MSME) in the 2021 Budget.
Executive director Sabri Ab Rahman said SMEs and MSMEs are the key to powering Malaysia out of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Gig economy players also need to be incentivised further to continue hand holding individual service providers, for example, our food delivery heroes, on whom the food and beverage (F&B) industry depend on today.
"The gig economy has not only become mainstream but it is also a lifeline for many of us in these challenging times," he said.
Sabri believes if the government seeks to repeat the success of this digital business model by 100 times, it will enable every single Malaysian and put their livelihoods in the palm of their hands.
"The result will be immense value delivered to the rakyat, in record time, guided by the government and paid for by corporate Malaysia. 2021 Budget must be paired with this new reality.
"Encouragingly, government agencies are now hyper receptive to fresh strategies, designed and implemented by innovators like Dapat, a Pertama Digital portfolio company," Sabri said.
PDB, formerly known as Sinotop Holdings Bhd, is the holding company of DAPAT Vista (M) Sdn Bhd. The company invests in fintech and government technology companies that build impactful solutions in the digital and mobile space.
DAPAT is a tech-driven Malaysian company that specializes in mobile technology and digitalisation of government services.
It provides solutions in mobile and web apps, mobile payment, messaging, business empowerment Application Programming Interfaces (API) and other customised digital services and products.
DAPAT also owns and operates the MyPay and eJamin apps.
Further, Sabri said Corporate Malaysia must not be left out of the table too.
"Not in seeking projects funded by the public purse, but instead, to design and implement innovative, digital business models that put Malaysians at the heart of their purpose.
"Whilst it is vital that the 2021 Budget includes further fiscal measures, for example, cash aid, wage subsidies and assistance, we must also take this once-in-a-generation opportunity to accelerate the widespread adoption of digital productivity en masse," he said.