Its coordinator, Ahmad Yazid Othman, said that no interest should be charged if the moratorium is accorded to these communities.

“The moratorium is much needed by the people because the government is incapable of providing cash aid to sustain their lives,” the coalition said in a statement today.

“This moratorium can also deter them from taking hefty loans from Ah Longs.

“We urge the government to use its powers under the emergency ordinance to tackle this economic and health crisis.”

Yazid said the coalition had launched a petition on change.org and received more than 10,000 signatures.

“We entrust the government to implement it for the sake of all Malaysians,” he said.

Last week, finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz said providing a blanket moratorium was akin to “using a sledgehammer to crack a nut”.

He said that giving a blanket moratorium did not make financial sense, “particularly in a resource-tight situation for a potentially lengthy war against an enemy that could mutate without warning”.

Tengku Zafrul also pointed out the government may need to significantly compensate banks for a measure that was not even necessary in the first place.

“I would rather direct those resources in the form of aid or subsidies to the rakyat and business segment that need them the most,” he said.