KUALA LUMPUR: Although the overall unemployment rate has reduced, the extension of the country lockdown from June 28 onwards continue to raise concerns for the low-income groups, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and youths.
The latest April figure shows that a total of 742,700 individuals remained unemployed despite the decrease of 0.4 percentage point in the unemployment rate in Malaysia to 4.6 per cent as compared to 5 per cent a year ago (April 2020).
Such figure is still relatively higher than the pre-pandemic level – the unemployment rate two years ago (March 2019) was only at 3.4 per cent, whereby a total of 521,300 individuals were unemployed.
As low-income households continue to be affected by unemployment and lower earnings over the past year, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has announced an additional RM150 billion worth of PEMULIH (People’s protection and economic recovery package) yesterday, assisting Malaysians to weather through the storm.
And even though the government has taken measures under Budget 2021, including getting government-linked companies (GLCs) to sponsor 150,000 laptops, the distribution needs to be accelerated. So far, only 12,887 or 8.6 per cent of the 150,000 laptops have been distributed as of June 5, according to the former Deputy Education Minister, Teo Nie Ching.
Thus, many children from low-income families still find it difficult to access learning materials online due to limited digital gadgets. Some of them do not even have their own smartphones as their learning devices.
For businesses, according to a recent survey conducted by the SME Association of Malaysia (SMEAM), it’s found that only 8.6 per cent of the SMEs said that “business is as usual”. The remaining 91.4 per cent stated that they would suffer losses ranging from 25 per cent to 100 per cent.
Furthermore, from the perspective of employability, anecdotal evidence seems to suggest that many young people are struggling to secure a decent job with decent pay and benefits.
And according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM)’s latest Labour Force Report for April 2021, the unemployment rate for those aged 15 to 24 years registered an increase of 0.8 percentage points to a record 13.7 per cent, as compared to April 2020 (12.9 per cent).
Since costs are additionally incurred in training new hires with no working experience, employers, in general, are not motivated or incentivised to hire fresh graduates under the current climate.
Nonetheless, Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz had announced that his ministry intends to create 500,000 new job opportunities with the setting up of the National Employment Council alongside the “Employment Creation Guarantee” (Jaminan Penjanaan Pekerjaan/JanaKerja) scheme.
“The JanaKerja scheme is expected to create 250,000 job opportunities, reskilling and upskilling programmes will have 200,000, and the MyStep scheme (will add) another 50,000 job opportunities,” he added.
Whereas under the Penjana Kerjaya 2.0 (Hiring Incentive & Training Programme), a total of 137,593 individuals have been employed between January and June (“Govt approved wage subsidy applications worth RM1.215b as at June 4, says Tengku Zafrul”, Bernama, June 17, 2021).
This is further reinforced in the PEMULIH announcement when the government also will be allocating RM125 million through Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) to implement “Place and Train” initiatives under the Janapreneur programme to school leavers and graduates.
It is hoped that more and more young people would be aware and take advantage on such opportunities offered by the government.
Another issue is that there is also an increasing concern that more Malaysians are suffering from depression and eventually falling into mental illness.
The statistics from January 1, 2021 to June 18, 2021 revealed that 89.4 per cent of the calls were related to mental health issues that required psychological support and counselling. The helplines were managed by the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (MWFCD) and the Department of Islamic Department (Jakim).
MOH also reported that a total of 1,080 cases of suicide attempts have been referred to government hospitals for treatment during last year alone.
Although the current administration is expanding mental health infrastructure to assist the vulnerable among us in managing mental illness problems during this total lockdown, there is still a continuous need for empathy for the plight of ordinary Malaysians as they struggle to weather through this challenging time.
As part of mental health and emotional awareness, the government has agreed to allocate RM15 million to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in assisting the government in addressing social issues such as mental health, homelessness and other social issues in the PEMULIH package.
Furthermore, as many are arguably more vulnerable today compared to where they were back in March last year, there were significantly more people coming to soup kitchens for food or to seek shelter during this total lockdown.
Arguably but it has to be emphasised nonetheless, the economic impact of COVID-19 cannot be precisely or systematically controlled or contained in the same way in the public health management sense – where the MCOs have succeeded to restore some measure as well as semblance of stability.
In other words, the balance and trade-offs between lives and livelihoods is not a simple act of judgment and discretion.
As such, the knock-on and chain reaction emanating from the lockdowns in economic terms is, in some ways, beyond the government’s control. The shutting down of a business due to prolonged lockdown cannot be controlled by the government.
However, to reiterate, the government should continue to assist and aid the rakyat – businesses and households – to withstand the economic shock.
Towards this end, EMIR Research urges that the government continues to:
1. Consult with industry and business associations regularly before announcing additional restrictions or relaxations in the standard operating procedures (SOPs), giving respective industries time to react and plan further;
2. Keep SOPs simple with guiding principles on sanitisation, double face mask-wearing (recommended by heath director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah), physical distancing and reduced movement. Clear communication among different government ministries and agencies would help businesses and individuals to grasp the SOPs of this total lockdown quickly;
3. Organise door-to-door visits to understand the needs and problems of the citizens, particularly among the low-income groups, in addition to providing psychological first aid-based helplines for them to express their psychosocial concerns;
4. Expedite the provision of 150,000 laptops under Budget 2021, ensuring all children could follow up the education syllabus despite learning barriers during school closure;
5. Create more high-skilled and high-income job opportunities under Jana Kerja, Penjana Kerjaya, etc. to ensure more young Malaysians can secure jobs that match their academic qualifications; and
6. Develop a targeted social welfare assistance system with single cross-agency Social Protection Database (PDPS), ensuring the stimulus packages introduced in the country could reach the most vulnerable.
With the introduction of an additional RM150 billion worth of PEMULIH on June 28, the government is indeed on the right track in ensuring that aid and stimulus packages will continue to accompany the continuation of the lockdown measures.
Amanda Yeo is Research Analyst at EMIR Research, an independent think tank focused on strategic policy recommendations based on rigorous research.
** The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of Astro AWANI.
Amanda Yeo
Tue Jun 29 2021
Another issue is that there is also an increasing concern that more Malaysians are suffering from depression and eventually falling into mental illness. REUTERSpic
Pelepasan air terawat Fukushima digantung kerana terputus elektrik
Pelepasan air radioaktif terawat ke laut dari loji janakuasa nuklear Fukushima yang lumpuh digantung pada Rabu berikutan gangguan bekalan elektrik separa, kata pengendali loji itu.
Prabowo rasmi diisytihar Presiden Indonesia
Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya Umum (KPU) secara rasmi akan mengisytiharkan Prabowo Subianto sebagai Presiden Indonesia dipilih, dalam satu majlis pada Rabu, seperti yang dijadualkan.
Jerman-UNRWA mungkin bekerjasama semula
Kerajaan Jerman merancang untuk menjalinkan kerjasama dengan agensi Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu bagi pelarian Palestin (UNRWA). Ia susulan daripada kontroversi yang mendakwa anggota petugas UNRWA terlibat dalam serangan di Gaza yang berlaku pada 7 Oktober tahun lalu.
Ini panggilan daripada Allah SWT - Dr Sharifah Mazlina
Ketua Misi Ekspedisi Wanita Berkumpulan ke Antartika, Dr Sharifah Mazlina Syed Abdul Kadir yang merupakan salah seorang peserta dari Malaysia bagi misi Break The Siege of Gaza Freedom Flotilla menyifatkan penglibatannya dalam misi berkenaan sebagai satu panggilan yang ditentukan Allah.
Tujuh ditahan polis dalam serbuan 'keganasan' Australia
Polis Australia menahan tujuh individu yang menimbulkan risiko dan ancaman kepada orang ramai selepas melakukan serbuan antikeganasan membabitkan lebih 400 pegawainya, pada Rabu.
[TERKINI] UM diminta siasat, sedia laporan segera
Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi (KPT) mengambil maklum dan memandang serius isu yang berlaku berhubung tindakan seorang penceramah warga asing mengeluarkan kenyataan yang dilihat mencetuskan kontroversi dan tidak menghormati sentimen masyarakat seperti tular di media sosial.
Astro AWANI dinobat adaptasi AI dalam pemberitaan terbaik di pentas Asia
Astro AWANI dinobat sebagai pemenang Anugerah Digital Media Awards 2024 bagi kategori adaptasi Teknologi Kecerdasan Buatan (AI) dalam pemberitaan terbaik di rantau Asia.
MITI optimis prestasi perdagangan lebih baik pada 2024
Tengku Zafrul menjelaskan, MITI juga memperbaharui fokusnya dengan berpaksikan kepada empat tunjang utama iaitu ekonomi, kelestarian, rakyat dan inovasi.
Pekebun durian musang king gagal dapat kebenaran semakan kehakiman
Mahkamah Tinggi tolak permohoan pekebun musang king untuk semakan kehakiman
Mahkamah Tinggi Kuantan menolak permohonan 186 pekebun durian musang king di sekitar Raub untuk mendapatkan kebenaran semakan kehakiman terhadap notis arahan pengosongan tanah dikeluarkan kerajaan negeri Pahang sebelum ini.
Mahkamah Tinggi Kuantan menolak permohonan 186 pekebun durian musang king di sekitar Raub untuk mendapatkan kebenaran semakan kehakiman terhadap notis arahan pengosongan tanah dikeluarkan kerajaan negeri Pahang sebelum ini.
Inspektor polis ditahan disyaki lakukan amang seksual fizikal
Seorang pegawai polis berpangkat inspektor ditahan bagi membantu siasatan berhubung dakwaan melakukan amang seksual fizikal
ke atas kanak-kanak perempuan berumur 16 tahun.
Ketua Polis Johor, Komisioner Polis M. Kumar berkata suspek yang bertugas di Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Pontian dikatakan melakukan kesalahan tersebut pada 22 April 2024 sekitar jam 6 petang di kawasan taman Johor Jaya.
ke atas kanak-kanak perempuan berumur 16 tahun.
Ketua Polis Johor, Komisioner Polis M. Kumar berkata suspek yang bertugas di Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Pontian dikatakan melakukan kesalahan tersebut pada 22 April 2024 sekitar jam 6 petang di kawasan taman Johor Jaya.
Pemulih SiberKASA jadi agenda lahirkan 20,000 bakat keselamatan siber menjelang 2024
Pemulih SiberKASA: Program Latihan Kemahiran Keselamatan Siber menjadi antara pengerak agenda untuk melahirkan 20,000 bakat dalam bidang keselamatan siber menjelang 2024.
Pelan Intervensi Pemulihan Ekonomi Koperasi bantu koperasi sepanjang PKP - Noh Omar
Pelan Intervensi Pemulihan Ekonomi Koperasi berjumlah RM20 juta membantu koperasi yang terjejas sepanjang tempoh Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) 3.0.
GKP 4.0: Bemanfaat untuk jangka masa lebih panjang, PKS boleh luaskan pasaran digital
Gunakan RM1000 itu, meskipun tidak banyak tapi sekurang-kurangnya gunakan ia untuk yang penting, jelas Azharee.
PM harap pemberian BKC bermula esok ringankan beban rakyat
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob berharap pengkreditan Bantuan Khas COVID-19 (BKC) bagi Fasa Satu bermula esok sedikit sebanyak mampu meringankan beban rakyat yang terkesan akibat COVID-
CBP lulus 47,413 permohonan moratorium PEMULIH
CBP meluluskan lebih 47,000 permohonan moratorium Pakej Perlindungan Rakyat dan Pemulihan Ekonomi (PEMULIH) sehingga pertengahan Julai lalu, dengan nilai keseluruhan melebihi RM3.2 bilion.
Buntu fikir jaga dua anak sakit selepas suami hilang pendapatan
Bagi Noor Suraya Saidin, 36, dan suaminya, Mohd Idzwan Jamari, 39, keadaan tidak mudah lebih-lebih lagi dua daripada empat anak mereka mempunyai penyakit serius.
Bantuan bakul makan kepada penduduk Pulau Perhentian tidak pernah putus
Sejak pandemik COVID-19 melanda lebih setahun lalu, bekalan bantuan makanan yang diterima mereka tidak pernah putus.
Tiga fasa pengagihan bakul makanan diberi kepada penduduk Pulau Redang
Lebih RM50,000 telah dibelanjakan bagi membantu masyarakat Pulau Redang yang mempuyai kira-kira 2,000 penduduk.
Bantuan bakul makanan ringankan beban hidup tiga beranak
Penduduk di daerah Kuala Pilah yang terjejas pendapatan dialu-alukan datang ke pejabat Pusat Khidmat Rakyat Kuala Pilah.
Kerajaan perlu berhati-hati guna ruang fiskal yang ada - Pakar ekonomi
Sehingga akhir Jun tahun ini, paras hutang statutori mencecah 56.8 peratus, namun ia masih di bawah had statutori 60 peratus KDNK yang dibenarkan.