PETALING JAYA: Malaysians have lauded stimulus efforts carried out by Perikatan Nasional over the last one year, since taking over the Federal Government.
The measures have proven to be lifelines which has helped Malaysians cope with the loss of jobs and incomes.
Lee Hai Lam, who was retrenched, said the Permai package had eased the requirements under the Employee Insurance Scheme (EIS), making him eligible to claim 30% of his previous drawn salary for three months.
“Though it’s not much, at least it helps me weather through such tough times. I can’t imagine what life would be without this additional aid, ” said the 47-year-old.
Cautionary tale: Foong and Chaw holding up a copy of her police report during a press conference
in Ipoh.
IPOH: A former waitress who lost her job during the first movement control order last March used funds from her Employees Provident Fund’s i-Sinar facility to pay number forecast agencies for tips for 4D wins only to be cheated of RM3,000.
Taking the easier way out to make a fast buck, Foong Wai Min, 42, invested a total of RM3,000 with a stranger she befriended on social media.
She gathered the money by borrowing from others and withdrawing RM1,000 from her i-Sinar account.
Helping hand: RM320mil has been channelled to 9,358 micro SMEs, including those in retail and services, as at Jan 8. RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has the right formula to get on the recovery path in terms of both public health and the economy, says Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
He said the combination of recent decisions involving the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR), Statutory Reserve Requirement (SRR), as well as Budget 2021 initiatives, the Permai assistance package, expediting of vaccine procurement and increased screening of employees, were all part of the right formula.
“Most importantly, the measures must be seen in their totality, not in isolation, ” he said, presenting the 37th Implementation and Coordination Unit Between National Agencies (Laksana) Report yesterday.
KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 20): Despite the decision to maintain the overnight policy rate at 1.75%, economists noted Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM)’s cautious tone in its monetary policy statement, with several expecting there to be another 25bps cut within the first half of the year.
In its statement, the Central Bank cited uncertainties surrounding the further resurgence of infections as well as “delays in mass inoculation against Covid-19”.
Given the uncertainties, it said the “stance of monetary policy going forward will be determined by new data and information, and their implications on the overall outlook for inflation and domestic growth”.
BNM stressed that the Central Bank “remains committed to utilise its policy levers as appropriate to create enabling conditions for a sustainable economic recovery”.
BESUT: A man who illegally installed 11 asphalt speed bumps on the street next to his house in Kampung Padang Luas, Jertih here, has apologised for his action.
Nor Muhamad Roslam Harun, 40, admitted his mistake in building so many speed bumps on a 40m stretch and causing a hassle to other residents.
“Police officers came to see me on Wednesday morning and asked me to remove all the speed bumps that I had installed.
“So I hired a bulldozer operator to remove all the speed bumps on the street, including the two original ones, ” he told Bernama.
The case went viral on social media a few days ago after a man uploaded a picture of the “new speed bumps” on the street leading to his house, which he claimed to have been installed by his neighbour.