PUTRAJAYA, March 16 — The execution of small-scale projects worth RM2 billion, as announced in the Economic Stimulus Package 2020 (PRE2020), would begin next month, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced today.
In a press conference after chairing the Economic Action Council (EAC) meeting here, Muhyiddin said that the implementation would be monitored by Chief Secretary to the Government (KSN), Datuk Seri Mohd Zuki Ali.
“The implementation would be monitored by the chief secretary to the government, and a weekly report will be given to me.
“These projects will focus on infrastructure development in rural areas, and will be carried out by small-scale Bumiputera contractors,” he said, adding that the government has also issued a circular effective March 16, 2020 to raise the ceiling of ballots from RM50,000 to RM100,000 and quotations from RM500,000 to RM800,000.
The PRE2020 will have three main thrusts: mitigating the impact of Covid-19, spurring people-centric economic growth and encouraging quality investments in the country.
Among key measures announced are a one-off RM600 cash handout to public transport workers, a monthly special allowance of RM400 for medical doctors and health workers, and RM200 for immigration officers.
Sectors given focus are small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs) and tourism, those deemed to be most impacted by the Covid-19 outbreak, which has claimed over 2,000 lives in China from where the novel coronavirus originated.
Then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad also announced a 15 per cent discount on the electricity bills for tourism agencies, hotels and carriers in a bid to boost tourism, among others, while hotels will be exempted from the new tourism tax and staff insurance contribution.
For SMEs, RM2 billion will be injected into a special assistance fund to provide low-interest rate loan, while Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) will provide RM200 million worth of microcredit at a 4 per cent interest rate.
