PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has been urged to extend its rent exemption for business premises and include low-income families renting its people’s housing projects (PPR) and public housing (PA).
Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil (pix) noted that at present, about half of the 42,000 renting PPR and PA earn below RM1,000, and that the restriction of movement order (RMO) would further affect them.
He said it was pertinent that DBKL assists this group too, in the interest of the welfare of the urban poor in the city centre.
“I believe about 20,000 families are facing job and payment difficulties, and surely many among them, who are doing odd jobs, are affected financially.
“As such, it is appropriate that DBKL provide a one-month free rental to these families who earn below the poverty line.
“It is estimated that such an assistance would only cost DBKL RM2.5 million, or about 0.08% of its 2020 budget,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa had on Wednesday announced that businesses operating in DBKL premises would be exempted from paying rent for a month, in light of the two-week RMO.
He also announced that 500 daily-wage earners with the council would be receiving full pay, even if they were unable to work throughout the 14-day period.
