KUALA LUMPUR: The Finance Ministry (MoF) is monitoring 76 initiatives under 2021 Budget and is ready to improve on specific initiatives if necessary.
Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said with the implementation of multiple forms of Movement Control Order across the nation, MOF was analysing and discussing suitable improvements for the initiatives.
This was to ensure the people's wellbeing and business continuity, Tengku Zafrul said in the 36th Implementation and Coordination Unit Between National Agencies (Laksana) report today.
He noted that several banks had agreed to provide loan repayment assistance to flood victims, including the extension of loan repayment moratorium for up to six months.
Such efforts from the banks, he added, were much needed from across the private sector to help reduce the burden of the rakyat and businesses, especially in the current situation.
"The government will ensure the assistance needed will reach those who are impacted by the flood.
"We need to join hands and play our respective roles to help our economy rebound and recover," Tengku Zafrul said.
He said RM127.74 million had been channelled for the subscription of 751,414 unlimited monthly public transport passes worth RM30, which is provided specifically for Malaysian citizens under the Penjana initiative of "Empowering the People".
On the Hiring Incentive Programme and Training Assistance, he said 128,779 employees had secured employment through this programme (compared with 128,778 employees as of the previous week).
"This number includes 102,657 people under the age of 40; 17,395 people for the age group of 40 and 60, as well as 7,382 apprentices and 1,344 people with disabilities," he said.
Under the Reskilling and Upskilling Programme, a total of 133,936 individuals have been approved to participate in the programmes provided, compared with 130,385 individuals as of the previous week.
On Penjana's objective of "Propelling Businesses", he said the Penjana SME Financing as of January 1 had approved 5,976 SME applications with a financing value of RM1.149 billion out of the RM2 billion allocated.
He said the Penjana Tourism Financing, which had an allocation of RM1 billion for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the sector affected by Covid-19, had received 566 applications for this financing, and of this total 272 applications had been approved with a total financing of RM54.8 million.
On the Tekun Business Recovery Scheme (TBRS), especially for micro SMEs, as of January 1, a total of RM99.9 million had been channelled under the TBRS to 14,893 micro SMEs.
As for the Penjana Micro Credit Financing under Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN), he said as of January 1, a total of RM307.2 million had been provided to 8,936 micro SMEs in the retail and services sectors.
On the Bumiputera Relief Financing (BRF), introduced by Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd (PUNB), he said as of January1, this fund had been channelled to 356 SMEs involving a value of RM94.2 million.
As for Penjana's third objective of "Stimulating the Economy", Tengku Zafrul said on the 100 per cent export duty exemption for the commodity sector, which involves palm oil-based industry, the value of export duty exemption successfully utilised by the country's commodities industry stood at RM593.9 million as of January 1.
On the service tax exemption for hotels to support the tourism sector, he said the value of the tax exemption utilised by the operators of the accommodation premises had reached RM836.6 million.
Meanwhile, he said as of January 1, the value of sales tax relief that had been utilised was RM201.5 million (compared with RM197.6 million as of the previous week).
"As announced two weeks ago, the government has agreed to extend this tax incentive until June 30, 2021, as a measure to further boost the automotive sector and the country's economic activity," he said.