KUALA LUMPUR: Close to one million micro Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SME) are expected to benefit from the additional RM500 to be disbursed from the Pemerkasa Plus financial relief package to be paid in stages from today onwards.
The initial RM1,000 financial aid for qualified SMEs was already credited in the middle of last month for eligible recipients.
With this additional RM500, Finance Minister Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said the government has allocated a total of RM1.5 billion for eligible entrepreneurs under Geran Khas Prihatin (GKP) 3.0.
He added that under the Pakej Perlindungan Rakyat dan Pemulihan Ekonomi (Pemulih) announced on June 28, the additional GKP 4.0 payment of RM500 for existing and new micro-SMEs recipients will be credited in September and November
"Those who have yet to receive any GKP aid may register for GKP 4.0 between July 15 and July 31," he said in a statement today.
Tengku Zafrul said a total of RM6.08 billion of funds has been allocated for nearly a million micro-SMEs since the pandemic began last year.
The government hopes the continuous aid channelled to the micro-SMEs would lighten their burden especially businesses which are yet to be allowed to operate, he said.
Apart from GKP, he said, there are many other initiatives that micro-SMEs can take advantage of in preparation for long-term planning towards the recovery of their respective businesses.
He added that this includes micro-SME soft loan funds totalling RM2.9 billion that can be sourced through Bank Simpanan Nasional, Agrobank, Mara, SME Corp, Malaysian Islamic Economic Development Foundation (YAPEIM) and National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund (TEKUN).
The provision of soft loan funds for SMEs and micro-SMEs is also available under Bank Negara Malaysia worth RM8.6 billion. This amount includes additional funds of RM2 billion through the Pemerkasa Plus package and another RM2 billion through Pemulih, said Tengku Zafrul.
"The Additional GKP 4.0, availability of soft loan funds, grants and others aim to meet the financing needs of SMEs and micro-SMEs for support their respective developments in line with the economic recovery outlined through the National Recovery Plan.
"This proves the government's seriousness and continued effort in helping businesses to stay afloat to contribute towards the economic growth of the country," he said.
More information on these funds as well as other Government assistance can be found at https://belanjawan2021.treasury.gov.my/manfaat
Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2021/07/707612/rm500-pemerkasa-plus-disbursement-micro-smes-starts-today-stages