SANDAKAN: Agencies under the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (Kuskop) are offering entrepreneurs affected by the Kampung Bahagia fire here a loan moratorium of up to six months to help them recover.
The initiative is part of a financial restructuring package implemented by Kuskop together with its agencies, including Tekun Nasional, Bank Rakyat and Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (Aim), following the blaze last week that destroyed about 1,000 houses and affected thousands of residents.
Kuskop Deputy Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin said the measure is important to ease the financial burden of victims, especially entrepreneurs, who lost their premises, inventory and sources of income.
“This moratorium gives victims the space to reorganise their finances without the pressure of immediate repayments, while helping them restart their businesses,” he said.
Under the package, Tekun Nasional offers a moratorium of up to six months, financing rescheduling and permission to withdraw savings. Overlapping financing is also provided as additional capital support.
Bank Rakyat is offering a moratorium on monthly instalments for up to six months for various financing products, including housing, vehicle, and personal loans, while Aim is providing a repayment deferment for the same period.
Through the Tabung Kesejahteraan dan Manfaat Sahabat (TKKS), affected Aim entrepreneurs are also eligible to receive cash assistance of up to RM5,000, as well as RM50 per day for those receiving hospital treatment.
A total of 70 entrepreneurs—including those under Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia and Bank Rakyat—as well as seven cooperatives with about 300 members, were affected by the Kampung Bahagia fire and are benefiting from the assistance.
Mohamad said this when met after visiting the site to distribute 400 food baskets and essential supplies to victims at the Temporary Evacuation Centres (PPS) at PPR Batu Sapi and SK Kampung Gas, Wednesday.
Kuskop also provided various additional assistance through its 10 agencies, including school supplies, clothing, cash aid and financial support for affected students.
Fire victims are advised to contact the branch offices of the relevant agencies to expedite documentation and aid distribution, while the Malaysian Cooperative Commission (SKM) acts as the main coordinator for this corporate social responsibility (CSR) mission.
