PH lawmakers say Covid-19 bill ‘too late’ for many businesses

Many businesses already closed in the months following the start of the MCO will not benefit from the Covid-19 bill.

KUALA LUMPUR:

Opposition MPs say they support the Covid-19 bill to reduce the impact of the Covid-19 crisis but it is “too little, too late” for retailers and jobless Malaysians who have been evicted from their rented properties.

Fahmi Fadzil (PH-Lembah Pantai) said Singapore had tabled the Covid-19 bill in April while the Australian parliament website states it was discussed on March 23.

“Instead, we are discussing this in late August,” he said, while debating the Temporary Measures for Reducing the Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) Bill 2020.

This bill aims to modify provisions of certain legislation on behalf of the rakyat to seek temporary relief from agreements and obligations.

Yesterday, the Dewan Rakyat passed the Temporary Measures for Government Financing (Covid-19) Bill 2020 to allow the government to inject RM45 billion into the economy and to increase the national debt ceiling to 60%.

Fahmi said a hotelier told him that he is unsure if he could continue to employ his 60 staff from next month, because the government’s wage subsidy assistance ends in September.

He gave another example in his constituency involving a family of seven who are strapped for cash and facing eviction for failing to pay rent.

Ong Kian Ming (PH-Bangi) pointed out how retailers at shopping malls were forced to shut down their businesses after failing to pay the rent.

“Action has been taken. They have lost their deposits. There is no recourse for rent once evicted,” he said while debating on the bill.

Nurul Izzah Anwar (PH-Permatang Pauh) said the bill is being debated “a bit too late for those who have lost everything.”

She added however, that hawkers should also have taken relevant measures and learnt how to save their business after the movement control order (MCO) began in mid-March.

Sivarasa Rasiah (PH-Sungai Buloh) lamented the delayed action in getting this bill tabled in Parliament as it also did not have any retroactive effect.

“Those unable to fulfil contract obligations, hire purchase, distress for failing to pay rental and declared insolvent since March are not covered.

“These victims cannot refer to this bill for protection” he told the Dewan Rakyat.

Sivarasa urged for more mediation centres or at areas with Session Courts in smaller towns to allow more people to seek advice.

Jalaluddin Alias (BN-Jelebu) urged the Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK) to set up centres at rural areas to help rural folks manage their finances.

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PH lawmakers say Covid-19 bill ‘too late’ for many businesses

With affected retailers having closed shop and evicted since March, the opposition MPs say there's no remedy for their plight with the new legislation.