PETALING JAYA, Mar 30 (Sin Chew Daily) — UCSI professor Dr. Mohd Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi feels that the economic stimulus package announced by prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is generally very good, but some of the measures need to be improved in order to help those really in need.

During a telephone interview with Sin Chew Daily, Prof Tajuddin said some of the people — including frontline healthcare personnel and the police, retrenched employees, and workers forced to take unpaid leave — should be entitled to special allowances, while civil servants and private sector employees whose incomes are unaffected by the outbreak, should not be offered any of these subsidies.

He is of the opinion that frontliners should get more allowances, including RM2,000 and RM1,000 each month for doctors and nurses respectively, while policeman and military personnel on duty during the movement control order should get additional RM500 a month until the whole outbreak is over.

"I doubt why civil servants should get the special subsidies because they are not much affected. Their salaries have not been deducted. Moreover, many of the offices are now closed during the MCO and they should have saved from transport expenses because they are all working from home now.

"I was thinking whether this package was meant to mitigate the coronavirus impact or just for election!

"This money should be used to help those losing their incomes due to the outbreak such as construction workers, taxi drivers, Grab drivers and airline cabin crew forced to take unpaid leave.

"It looks like now everyone gets the subsidies, whether their incomes are affected or not."

Prof Tajuddin nevertheless agrees with the measures to provide six-month moratorium on individual or company loan repayment, as well as EPF Account 2 withdrawal for members aged below 55.

"On the EPF withdrawal, some may argue why they should use their own savings, but I feel it's alright. Of course, this will depend on how much savings each individual has. Some may have 30-40k while those fresh in the job market may only have 10k."