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MIRI – Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg today announced yet another package of subsidies and financial incentives, this time dubbed Bantuan Khas Sarawak Sayangku (BKSS) or Special Aid for Beloved Sarawak 9.0, for the state.
It features five goodies that the state government expects to finance with RM1 billion in funds, he told a press conference in state capital Kuching.
He said Sarawakians are seeing an inflation hike this year, with the rate increasing by 3.2% this year as of June.
“We are taking measures under BKSS 9.0 to help the people who are still feeling the economic difficulties,” he said.
Overall, it is estimated that the state treasury will foot about RM 1 billion to facilitate these BKSS 9.0 incentives, he added.
The five key points in BKSS 9 deal with all sectors including business and industrial sectors, as well as ordinary folk in housing estates and villages, he said.
The five measures are:
- discounts of between five to 25% for monthly electricity bills for residential properties, and business and industrial premises, from July to December this year;
- discount of between 10 to 25% for water bills for residential, business and industrial sectors from July to December;
- assessment rate discounts of 25% for payers incurring more than RM400 per year and 30% discount for those paying less than RM400 per year.
- 50% discount for rental of hawker stalls and market booths under all local councils in the state; and
- variation of prices for construction raw materials for residential and businesses involved in construction projects to help cushion the impact of hikes in prices of essential raw building supplies.
Johari said the variation of prices for building materials is only applicable for government projects under the state government’s jurisdiction. – The Vibes, August 29, 2022