Dennis (standing) stops by at a stall selling jungle produce at KM10 in Ulu Baram.
MIRI (June 28): The rural constituents of Telang Usan are appealing to the state government to extend the deadline for registration of unlicensed and temporary petty traders and hawkers with the local authorities, so that they would be eligible for the Sarawakku Sayang Special Assistance (BKSS) 6.0.
In this regard, Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau said he had received feedback from his constituents, who lamented that they were unable to meet the application deadline set by the state government.
Under BKSS 6.0, the state government would provide financial aid worth RM1,500 to every licensed petty trader and hawker who had been adversely affected by the Movement Control Order (MCO), in force to curb the spread of Covid-19.
The application for this assistance was also extended to unlicensed petty traders and hawkers, provided that they must apply for temporary permits from their respective local authorities and submit their applications for the BKSS 6.0 aid by end of this month.
“Some areas in my constituency have been placed under lockdown, following reports of Covid-19 cases.
“That’s why many of them (unlicensed petty traders and hawkers) are voicing out concern over their inability to meet the set deadline,” the assemblyman told The Borneo Post on Sunday.
Moreover, he said these traders were unable to go to Long Lama town, which had better Internet facility, due to the current MCO.
It is stated that the payment of the RM1,500 aid for petty traders and hawkers, under BKSS 6.0, would be made via e-wallet platform, Sarawak Pay, with the first RM750 to be credited next month and the remainder to be in by December.
“In view of this, I really hope that the state government would able to extend the deadline for the new applicants in Telang Usan, so that they would not be left out,” said Dennis, adding that there are about 200 licensed petty traders and hawkers in his constituency.
Those petty traders and hawkers eligible for the BKSS 6.0 assistance include those operating food stalls and canteens (individual owners), lock-up shops, market and ‘tamu’ (farmers and jungle produce market), village shops, isolated shops, as well as barbershops and hair salons.