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Image credit: Malaysiakini

KUALA LUMPUR: The government should approve wage subsidy programmes for all categories in the small and medium enterprises (SME) industry instead of focusing only Son targeted sectors.

Malaysian Bar president Salim Bashir said this includes those who provide professional services, as a majority of industries are affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Many law firms fall within the SME categories and believe that the government should approve wage subsidies to all categories instead of only to some targeted ones.

"There is no special allocation for legal sectors and the National Legal Aid Foundation (NLAF).

"The moratorium for loans should be automatically approved for all those applying, without subject to imposed conditions," he said when contacted today.

Salim added that the association would ensure that the NLAF will be sustained to provide free legal services to the people, even though it does not receive any allocation in the Budget.

"The centre (NLAF) had received an earlier budget, and we hope, the amount can be sustained for payments to the lawyers.

"We wish a further amount can be approved soon," he said.

Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, when tabling the 2021 Budget, said that the government would extend the implementation of the wage subsidy programme for another three months with a more targeted approach.

He said assistance in the form of extending the moratorium or flexibility in repayments has been provided to those who have lost their jobs in addition to individuals and SMEs whose incomes have been severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Salim lauded an allocation of RM21 million to set up local social support centres for domestic violence victims in the recent budget.

"We also welcome the move to set up the National Job Council which will be chaired by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to manage unemployment issues in the country due to the pandemic," he added.

Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/11/638931/budget-2021-wage-subsidy-programme-should-be-all-not-just-targeted