The Selangor state council (MMKN) has approved the allocation for recipients of the Selangorkini literary prize.

Youth, Development, Sports, Cultural and Entrepreneurship Development exco member Amirudin Shari said the Selangor state economic planning unit (Upen) will channel the allocation to Tourism Selangor so that recipients of the prize will receive the cash prize before the year ends.

Amirudin was quoted as saying so by the state’s official newspaper Selangorkini today.

His response comes after winners of the main awards and consolation prizes expressed discontent as they have yet to receive the cash prizes promised by the state government.

At the official ceremony early this month, winners were only given plaques and unsigned certificates by Amirudin.

There are three categories in the awards - short stories, poems and essays. With five finalists shortlisted by the jury panel, the main winner was promised RM5,000 while the rest were to receive RM1,000 each as consolation.

Prior to this, the media reported Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali as saying that the issue of the cash prizes should have been solved last Monday.

Similarly, Amirudin had been reported to have admitted that they may have been technical errors, though he was confident that they would be sorted out soon.

In a statement in response to Malaysiakini , the awards secretariat had explained that the delays incurred were because of financial procedures and regulations that must be adhered to.