Reactions have been mixed regarding the E-Pemula increase announcement
KUALA LUMPUR — Two million youths aged 18 to 20, and full-time students aged 21 and above, will receive the benefits of the E-Pemula, an e-wallet credit programme, as its one-off credit will be increased to RM200 next year.
When tabling the Supply Bill 2023 in the Dewan Rakyat today, Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz stated that the programme will continue, involving RM400 million in allocation, an increase from the original amount of RM150, as part of improvement efforts.
Reactions to the announcement have been mixed, as some on Twitter have praised the increased but prefer a wage increase or basic income over an e-Pemula increase.
Furthermore, he stated that the Social Security Organisation (Socso) employment initiative will be provided to employers who hired youths aged 18 to 30, who had been looking for work for more than three months.
This initiative is also extended to employers who hire graduates of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
“To encourage more young people to do business, a total of RM305 million will be provided as special loan facilities for youths through SME Bank, Tekun (National Entrepreneur Group Economic Fund), Mara (Majlis Amanah Rakyat), BSN (Bank Simpanan Nasional) and Agrobank,” he said.
Furthermore, the Finance Minister stated that RM50 million will be provided through BSN for the Skim Penjaja Muda Keluarga Malaysia, which provides loans of up to RM50,000 to ten thousand young people to generate their own income, such as operating a food truck business.
Tengku Zafrul stated that the government agreed to bear the licence fee under the MyPSV programme, as well as the B2 class motorcycle driving licence fee, to assist B40 youth who generate income through services such as taxis, buses, and e-hailing.
“To encourage youths to work, the Tekun Youth Mobilepreneur Scheme continues, with an RM10 million fund to finance the capital of young individuals involved in delivery services using motorcycles,” he said.
Meanwhile, he also announced that the Malaysian Family Youth Package, which helps youths get a pre-paid internet data plan subscription package for RM30 for a period of three months, has been extended until April 2023. — Bernama
More to come …
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