MELAKA, March 18 — A total of 1,000 flood victims from the hardcore poor and B40 groups in Johor and parts of Pahang will each receive a voucher worth RM300 under the Payung Rahmah initiative.

Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister (KPDN) Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub said the voucher was to help flood-affected people, especially in Batu Pahat and Segamat, to buy electrical appliances such as washing machine and refrigerator that were damaged in the disaster.

"We have also collaborated with companies that produce electrical goods, they will also offer items at discounted prices,” he told a press conference after opening the new office building of the Melaka Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) at Fashion City, MITC Ayer Keroh here today.

Meanwhile, Salahuddin said there was growing awareness among e-commerce business owners and online entrepreneurs to register their businesses with the SSM.

He said this was following various initiatives created by the government including free registration for the youths.

"As of Feb 28, a total of 686,908 online business entities and 10,633 online companies across the country have registered with SSM,” he said.

Salahuddin also encouraged youth entrepreneurs to immediately register their businesses under the free business registration scheme (SPPP) which was started earlier this year.

"We have an allocation of RM10 million for this SPPP programme and since it started on Jan 1, SSM has received 60,273 registrations of which 32,597 are B40 entrepreneurs and 27,676 full-time students,” he added. — Bernama