SIBU: A total of 7,131 small medium enterprises (SMEs) and Micro Enterprises that applied for Sarawakku Sayang Special Assistance (BKSS) 7.0 and 7.0 plus are still being assessed by the state Economic Planning Unit (EPU).
Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government II, Michael Tiang, said these applicants include owners with many businesses.
“Further assessment is needed due to technical issues such as incomplete information and so forth.
“For example, some of them submitted bank account information which does not match their company’s registration name or maybe some have multiple companies,” he said.
He revealed that basically EPU will continue to make assessments and iron out some of the technical issues with the applicants.
“Once all requirements are fulfilled, the BKSS will be released to them immediately,” he added.
He also explained that EPU is in constant communication with the applicants on the technical issues.
“I got to understand the progress of BKSS distribution after a briefing sessions by EPU director Datuk Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel and his team at the office of Deputy Premier Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian on Monday,” he said.
He revealed that 10,696 recipients (companies) had received the BKSS while another 6,490 companies were not eligible for the assistance as they had failed to fulfill the criteria.
“Even though applications for BKSS 7.0 and BKSS 7.0 plus closed on March 18, that does not mean the BKSS distribution would stop after March 18.
“It only means that no new applications will be accepted after March 18,” he said.
He added that when Dr Sim found out that payment could not be made to eligible companies due to technical issues, he brought it up with the Premier.
During Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Triennial Delegates Conference (TDC) Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg agreed to allow applications by these companies to be reassessed.
He added that on the second last day of the last State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting, members of SUPP visited the Premier and personally explained the issues to him.
“Again, he allowed all these companies or applicants to be assisted to ensure they can get the assistance they need,” added Tiang.
