DAP Sarawak has today cautioned that the state’s business sector has been largely neglected in the government’s latest aid package, urging officials to shift funding away from high-profile infrastructure ventures and toward initiatives that will help small and medium-sized enterprises survive.

Chong Chieng Jen, Sarawak DAP’s state chairman, noted that numerous shopkeepers, street vendors and small business owners are finding it difficult to pay rent and utilities after weeks of movement restrictions. Yet the federal stimulus to date has favoured major undertakings such as the Pan-Borneo Highway and naval shipbuilding deals, leaving minimal targeted relief for the private sector.

“Without assistance, countless small enterprises risk shutting down—and with them disappear jobs and incomes,” Chong remarked. He proposed a set of urgent measures, including:
• A six-month moratorium on all SME loan repayments;
• Temporary waivers or reductions in electricity, water and rent charges;
• Broader eligibility criteria and increased payouts under current micro-enterprise grant schemes;
• A one-off cash payout of RM3,000 to each eligible small trader or self-employed individual.

Chong further urged both federal and state authorities to hold a special “emergency budget” session, so that funds freed up by postponing or scaling back infrastructure projects can be reallocated immediately rather than waiting for the next fiscal cycle. He argued that every ringgit invested in safeguarding the vulnerable now would generate a considerably higher social and economic return than additional road-building or shipbuilding contracts during the pandemic.

The DAP Sarawak leader appealed to all political parties to set aside partisan divides and endorse prompt, concrete relief actions. “This is not the moment for vanity projects,” he said. “Our priority must be to protect our people and our economy.”

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Note: This article was automatically sourced from reputable news outlets. The information is intended for general reference only. Prospective buyers and investors should verify project specifications, pricing, and investment advice with licensed agents or official developers.