KUALA LUMPUR: Improved terms in the wage subsidy programme or PSU 4.0 will save more jobs including those in the M40 group as well as businesses under the National People’s Well-Being and Economic Recovery Package (Pemulih).

       The programme will lessen the burden of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in areas such as operational overheads when there is low or no business transactions during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, according to Amy Seok, (pic) the chief executive officer of Money Compass Media (M) Sdn Bhd.

       “Letting go of talents will be the last thing a business would do if given a choice, ” she told Bernama in response to the government’s RM150bil Pemulih package announced last week.

       Nevertheless, she called for efficient and consistent communication between the community, business and government in dealing with the current business downturn due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

       They should join hands to come up with creative and innovative solutions and set a better direction towards economic recovery, a task that should not just be left to the ministries or government, she said.

       As for the moratorium, Seok said all banks and financial institutions in Malaysia should prove their corporate social responsibility to waive off the six months’ interest and not just the compounding interest“If the interest is charged for the six months then it means that all SMEs businesses are operating but in reality, many companies including manufacturing and retail firms are badly-affected and have ceased operations.

       “It would be very difficult for them to pay interest when they are not even operating, which is why they shouldn’t be charged compounded interest and the interest should be waived, ” she said.

       It would be fair if bankers charge interest for loans on companies which are still operating and doing well, she added. — Bernama