KUCHING: Local business owners are grateful to the state government for the Sarawakku Sayang Special Assistance Package (BKSS 6.0) which aims to ease the burden of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and movement control order (MCO).
Coffeeshop owners will soon be included in the package because they are categorised as hawkers.
Juat Siang Café is a fourth-generation family-run coffeeshop which has been operating since 1917 on Carpenter Street.
Its owner Kapitan Lim Chuan Chan said, “I fully support and appreciate the efforts of the state government in providing financial assistance to Sarawakians during this critical period.”
He hoped that the state government would announce more assistance packages in the near future as well as allow those who had already been vaccinated to dine in.
Belalak Coffeeshop has been operating since 2018 at the Hills. Its owner, Fadhlul Hadi Hatta Annand said he was grateful for the assistance.
“During this MCO period, everyone in the business industry, as well as coffeeshops, are affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“My business has been severely impacted, particularly by standard operating procedures (SOPs) that do not allow customers to dine in. For the time being, I have to use Food Panda,” he said.
Coffee Bean Signature Semariang owner, Faizal Yusof was happy to hear about the assistance for coffeeshop owners.
“This truly shows the government’s sympathy and empathy. It means a lot to the owners of coffeeshops who are facing financial difficulties.
“I hope there will be more assistance from the government in the near future to further boost the state’s economy.”
Kuching Coffeeshop and Restaurants Owners Association committee member Kapitan Tan Yit Sheng was also grateful for the BKSS 6.0.
However, he said the RM1,500 might be insufficient for coffeeshop owners who had premises in several locations.
