Govt ready to implement more stimulus packages if necessary, says PM

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin says the government is prepared to implement additional stimulus packages or other initiatives to help those facing economic constraints if this proves necessary and if the country’s financial situation permits.

He said caring for the people had always been the guiding principle for him and his Perikatan Nasional government.

“It is my responsibility to care for the people regardless of their race, creed, or colour. This is my utmost priority.

“What I have done for the past six months was based on this principle. I have to take care of not only people’s lives but also their livelihood,” he said when officiating the closing of the PN administration’s half-year convention in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Muhyiddin said the Bantuan Prihatin Nasional, loan moratorium, special assistance for SMEs, wage subsidies, electricity bill discounts and other initiatives under the previous economic stimulus packages were proof of the government’s concern for the people.

When the government enforced the movement control order, he said, almost all economic activity was halted and the people were unable to work and run their businesses as usual which affected their income and livelihood.

As the prime minister, he added, he could not turn a blind eye to these problems.

“That is why I asked the finance minister to find the money. It would break my heart to tell the people that the government did not have the money to help them when they were facing hardship.

“The minister came back to me and said we had the money and I said okay, we will use the money to help ease the people’s burden.

“That was the money used by the government to provide various forms of assistance to the people through the previous economic stimulus packages totalling RM295 billion.”