MECD OFFERS UP TO SIX-MONTH PAYMENT DEFERMENT FOR ENTREPRENEURS IN PUTRA HEIGHTS FIRE INCIDENT

PUTRAJAYA, April 4 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development (MECD) will provide a payment deferment service of up to six months to entrepreneurs affected by the gas pipeline fire incident in Putra Heights as a relief to repay the National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund (Tekun) financing. 

In a statement today, MECD said the entrepreneurs involved can reschedule, which is a discussion to rearrange the terms of financing payments, to manage their finances well during this challenging period. 

“This initiative aims to ease the burden faced by entrepreneurs facing challenges such as damaged business premises and damages to stock of goods or homes,” said the ministry. 

It said the affected entrepreneurs can withdraw savings from their Tekun Nasional accounts. 

“Overlapping assistance is also being offered for capital injections or additional financing to help cover business recovery costs or immediate needs following this fire incident,” the statement said. 

MECD said Bank Rakyat is also offering special assistance in deferring payment of monthly installments to individual and business customers for up to six months throughout the financing period.

According to the statement, among the products offered through the facility are Home Financing-i, Vehicle Financing-i, Vehicle Hire Purchase-i, Personal Financing-i, Credit Card-i, Pawn Financing-i, Micro Financing-i and Education Financing-i. 

“Bank Rakyat is also offering Debit Card-i and Credit Card-i replacements without any fees to affected customers,” said the ministry.

A deferral of loan repayments for up to six months involving a total of RM200,000 is also offered, while via the Sahabat Wellbeing and Benefits Fund (TKKS) and the Koopcare Koperasi Sahabat, a maximum cash assistance of RM5,500 is also provided. 

MECD said that via TKKS, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia entrepreneurs whose businesses have been destroyed will receive cash assistance of up to a maximum of RM4,000, while entrepreneurs receiving treatment in hospitals will receive assistance of RM500 a day. 

The Malaysian Cooperative Commission also assisted the victims by distributing disposable adult diapers and milk powder for children, involving a donation value of RM5,000. 

MECD recommends that all entrepreneurs and cooperatives affected by the incident contact the nearest MECD agency branch office to obtain further information about the initiatives.

-- BERNAMA