KUALA LUMPUR: Tour operators, as one of the most affected sectors by the Covid-19 pandemic, would receive a one-off aid of RM3,000 once the country moves to Phase Three of the National Recovery Plan (NRP).
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, in unveiling the Pakej Perlindungan Rakyat dan Pemulihan Ekonomi (Pemulih), said this would benefit more than 5,300 registered tour operators in the country.
"The tourism industry is among the segments badly hit during the pandemic.
"As a kick-start, when the country moves to Phase Three of the NRP, the government will provide a one-off assistance of RM3,000 to more than 5,300 registered tour operators."
To provide additional financial assistance to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), he said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) had agreed to provide an additional RM2 billion ringgit for financial assistance access through the Pemulih package.
Muhyiddin said to date, there was still an existing balance of RM6.6 billion ringgit out of the total RM25.1 billion provided by BNM for the benefit of new applicants.
"It is hoped that this fund will be able to meet the various needs of SMEs and micro-entrepreneurs in easing their business cash flow constraints."
He said to continue supporting micro-entrepreneurs, the microcredit financing programme would be continued with an additional easy-financing fund of up to RM1.1 billion, provided by AgroBank and Bank Simpanan Nasional amounting to RM500 million each, and RM100 million from National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund (Tekun).
"With the existing RM3 billion allocation for 2021, this means that microcredit funds for micro-entrepreneurs are still available."