KUALA LUMPUR: The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) has demanded the government to reinstate a blanket loan moratorium for six months as the country goes into total lockdown next week.
Apart from that, Fomca president Datuk Dr Marimuthu Nadason called the government to halt salary payment for members of parliament and state assemblymen during the lockdown period.
"Since the Parliament and state assemblies are not functioning, why should MPs and state assemblymen be paid for idling on their couch at home?
"Instead, the government should provide at least RM3,000 financial aid for every B40 (bottom 40 per cent) household for six months. Similar assistance should be given to M40 (middle 40 per cent) households as well.
"Utility bills should also not be raised for these households.
"Taxpayers must be exempted from paying income tax as their jobs are hanging in the balance due to the government's short-sighted decisions.
"Likewise, individuals who sell their properties during this period must be exempted from taxes," he told the New Straits Times today.
Marimuthu also urged for bankruptcy proceedings to be deferred at the moment.
Instead, he called for the government to expedite the Covid-19 vaccination drive and provide students with iPad for them to follow home-based teaching and learning (PdPR).