KUALA LUMPUR: Veteran rock singer Datuk Hattan has urged the government to consider giving a moratorium to low-income folk, especially those who have been rendered jobless.
The former Akademi Fantasia judge and principal is worried that the on-going Movement Control Order (MCO) will hit more Malaysians hard if it is extended further.
In a recent Instagram video, Hattan said: "Covid-19 cases are still above 4,000 and I fear that the MCO will be extended. This is worrying, as many low-income Malaysians have been suffering due to lack of business opportunities and restricted working hours.
"They are saddled with debts and are unable to put food on their plates."
Hattan added: "I urge the government to spare a thought for all of them. The government should seriously consider giving them an automatic moratorium, especially on business loans.
"So many of them are out of work and consequently, they have little or no income to survive, and many depend on charity."
Citing an example, Hattan said that workers in shopping complexes were unable to do overtime work, as these complexes had been forced to close.
"We in the creative industry also need a similar moratorium. Many of us have been unable to perform in live events, and not all of us are well off.
"In fact, many of us are now jobless, doing nothing at home, and that's depressing," he said.
Hattan added that if major businesses could appeal to the government for moratoriums, he did not see why small businesses could not do so.
"If big companies can get help, I don't see why small businesses cannot. The government should be there for the 'small man'," said Hattan.
Non-government organisation Gerakan Ekonomi Malaysia (GEM) recently urged the government to implement an automatic blanket loan moratorium.
GEM president Armin Baniaz Pahamin said many businesses had to go through tedious processes to apply for repayment assistance from banks.
"The majority of Bumiputera retailers are teetering on the brink of collapse after the government implemented the Movement Control Order 3.0.
"We take note of this and fully support an automatic blanket moratorium," he said.
He said a blanket moratorium on loans could be offered by financial institutions without incurring any additional budget from the government.
The third MCO began on June 11 and will end on June 28.
Datuk Hattan's video
