KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 – Deputy President Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) decision to allow the licensed money lender to operate during the Movement Control Order 3.0 (MCO) as absurd.

He questioned the ministry’s motive and as to whether it will really help the people who are already desperate for financial assistance.

“This action is very absurd. Is this the way KPKT eases the burden of the people? Is it reasonable to encourage them go into debt? You call this a recovery strategy?” he said in a Facebook posting, today.

He stressed that the people are in dire need of appropriate economic assistance during the extended MCO 3.0 but adding to their debt is not a solution.

“Throwing desperate people into cumulating debt is not only irresponsible but very immoral. KPKT should use the local government’s reserves to offer more welfare services. Many local governments have large reserves.

“The job of the local government must be to prioritize the human needs of its taxpayers and not just do municipal work.

“It is a fact that many people are forced to get loans with licensed mortgages agencies for survival as well as their small businesses but they have to service a very high interest rates.

“The government’s job is to find a way out of all this for the sake of the country’s economic recovery. However, encouraging the people to accumulate debt is like putting nails to their coffin!”