As Putrajaya imposes ‘total lockdown’, SMEs say already running on empty
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A deserted Jalan Bukit Bintang during the CMCO November 23, 2020. Small and Medium Enterprises Association (Samenta) chairman Datuk William Ng urged the government to consider restoring the loan repayment moratorium from last year as well as continue the ongoing wage subsidy scheme. — Picture by Hari Anggara
KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 — Many small-medium enterprises exhausted their savings during previous movement control orders and were unlikely to survive without urgent government assistance for the “total lockdown” starting next week, said an industry group.
Small and Medium Enterprises Association (Samenta) chairman Datuk William Ng urged the government to consider restoring the loan repayment moratorium from last year as well as continue the ongoing wage subsidy scheme.
“Many of our SMEs have run out of reserves. Some have reported that they are owing landlords and suppliers for months. They were hopeful that they can still deliver on some pending orders to recover some funds to pay these.
“The total lockdown will make it difficult, if not impossible to do so,” he said in a statement.
Ng said SMEs have been supportive of the government and its policies throughout the pandemic, including holding onto employees even as larger corporations retrenched.
The Samenta chief asked the government to reciprocate this by considering the plight of SMEs that employ millions in Malaysia.
Tonight, the Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement to announce a “total lockdown” from June 1 to 14, during which all non-essential services and activities will be prohibited.
The list of essential services has not been released nor has the standard operating procedures that will apply.
However, the PMO did say the Finance Ministry was drawing up an assistance package for Malaysians and affected sectors, which will be announced soon.
Small and Medium Enterprises Association (Samenta) chairman Datuk William Ng urged the government to consider restoring the loan repayment moratorium from last year as well as continue the ongoing wage subsidy scheme.
“Many of our SMEs have run out of reserves. Some have reported that they are owing landlords and suppliers for months. They were hopeful that they can still deliver on some pending orders to recover some funds to pay these.
“The total lockdown will make it difficult, if not impossible to do so,” he said in a statement.
Ng said SMEs have been supportive of the government and its policies throughout the pandemic, including holding onto employees even as larger corporations retrenched.
The Samenta chief asked the government to reciprocate this by considering the plight of SMEs that employ millions in Malaysia.
Tonight, the Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement to announce a “total lockdown” from June 1 to 14, during which all non-essential services and activities will be prohibited.
The list of essential services has not been released nor has the standard operating procedures that will apply.
However, the PMO did say the Finance Ministry was drawing up an assistance package for Malaysians and affected sectors, which will be announced soon.
TIPU "Total Lockdown". Have many duplicate Keys.
ReplyDeleteA govt that fails on all aspects of good governance.
ReplyDelete1) failed to impose crowd control & social distancing bcoz of religious demands
2) failed to restrict travelling bcoz of hariraya celebration
3) failed to exercise all round pandemic restrictions due to lackadaisical attitudes
4) failed to medicate long term & consistent economic plannings in meeting persistent short term economic needs & populace casualties
Exactly in the same mould as what happened in India!
The death toll will explode while the poors, down&troddens & the marginalized groups would suffer the most.
& who r that majority in those groupings?
The melayu!
Yr selfish & incompetent elite r driving u guys to hell.
We are where we are.
ReplyDeleteI think the government has no choice but to impose "cold turkey" treatment.
The economic damage from ordering almost everything shut down will be painful, even if it only lasts a few weeks.
Examples from the developed countries prove such a 'lockdown' is a rollercoaster ride when the firm & necessary crowd control is missing &/or lackadaisically implemented!
Delete& Malaysia is world famous in having such an administrative attitude.
The future is grimm, indeed - huge death toll with considerable populave economic ruin!
total lockdown is not really total, msia lockdown with buddhism characteristics.
ReplyDeleteU know 佛系？
DeleteOr those Formosa bastardized version?
More likely u just want to tag an inconsequential fart for the stupidity of yr dangdut pals.