KUALA LUMPUR: The government will continue to help micro, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by disbursing funds under phase two of the Prihatin Special Grant (GKP 4.0) of the Pemulih package from Nov 23.

       In a statement on Friday (Nov 19), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the RM500 payout will be disbursed beginning Nov 23, on top of the RM500 given out in September to more than one million eligible micro enterprises.

       "As a whole, each entrepreneur will receive a total of RM1,000 under GKP 4.0 as a form of relief from the Covid-19 pandemic.

       "This initiative covers existing recipients of GKP 1.0, GKP 2.0, and GKP 3.0, other than new recipients of GKP 4.0, with a financial implication of up to RM500mil," said Ismail Sabri.

       He added the payment will be credited into the bank accounts of eligible recipients registered under the GKP system, and the people can check their eligibility beginning Nov 22 through https://gkp.hasil.gov.my.

       The Prime Minister said in total, RM6.08bil had been allocated for over one million micro enterprises under GKP since the pandemic hit.

       "The government hopes that continuous cash handouts to these micro enterprises will help them with cash flow and stimulate the recovery of their businesses, which has been one of the most severely impacted by the pandemic," he said. – Bernama