Penang okays additional aid, Covid-19 relief fund now at RM75m
CORONAVIRUS | Following its March 17 announcement of a RM20 million fund to combat Covid-19, the Penang government has approved an additional amount to the relief package.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the total estimated cost of this package now stands at RM75 million.
CORONAVIRUS | Following its March 17 announcement of a RM20 million fund to combat Covid-19, the Penang government has approved an additional amount to the relief package.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (photo) said the total estimated cost of this package now stands at RM75 million.
Chow said the decision was made by the state executive council which met today and after reviewing the situation under the movement control order (MCO) which enters its eighth day.
"Taking into account the needs of the people of Penang, the state government has approved an additional amount to the relief package," Chow said on Facebook Live today.
"The aid package has three main objectives which are to provide immediate assistance to the most vulnerable groups, including hawkers, small business owners, taxi drivers, e-hailing drivers, the disabled and the B40 group.
"Second, it enables the working class to bounce back and continue to take care of themselves, their families and develop the state through productivity," Chow explained.
"Third, it is to enable business continuity in Penang to ensure that the state's economy will continue to be developed post-April 14," he added.
Chow's announcement comes on the heel of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin declaring that the MCO will be extended until April 14.
The decision comes in wake of the number of Covid-19 cases in the country climbing to 1,796 cases as of noon today.
In his live address, Muhyiddin said 172 new cases were recorded today, warning that the worst was yet to come.
He also reported that there were two additional deaths, bringing the death toll to 17.
The details of the package are as follows:
1. RM500 one-off cash assistance to licensed small traders and hawkers registered with the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP).
Recipients include traders in night markets, farmers markets and food trucks.
Registration for the grant will start on April 15.
Costing RM7 million, the grant will benefit 14,012 small traders and licensed hawkers throughout Penang.
2. RM500 one-off cash assistance to 1,367 registered tour guides in Penang, totalling RM685,000.
3. A one-off cash assistance of RM500 will be provided to Community Welfare Department recipients, including the disabled and AES recipients.
Payments will be made directly to their accounts by April.
This grant involves 18,657 recipients, costing the state government some RM9.33 million.
4. Increase in annual incentives for taxi drivers and rickshaw riders from RM300 to RM500, to be paid out in April.
The aid will benefit 2,248 taxi drivers and 318 rickshaw riders, with a total cost of RM513,600.
5. RM300 one-off cash assistance to e-hailing drivers, involving about 10,000, while the total cost incurred by the state government will amount to RM3 million.
6. Exemption of monthly rentals for premises under the local councils, including public housing units, for two months (April and May), involving 4,860 units.
The total cost incurred by the state government for this scheme is RM932,844.
7. One month rent exemption for state government and local authorities business premises, including public markets and retail lots, involving 10,999 premises.
All Village Community Management Councils (MPKKs) are instructed not to collect night market and morning market rentals for April.
The total cost incurred by the state government for this scheme is RM1.61 million.
8. A charity grant of RM3 million to needy Muslims by the Penang Zakat, which was announced on March 19, by Deputy Chief Minister II Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman, who is also president of the Penang Islamic Religious Council.
9. Special financial aid to mosques (RM1,000) and suraus (RM500) from the Penang Islamic Affairs Department for maintenance, operations and disinfection.
The aid involves 226 mosques and 538 suraus in Penang, costing RM495,000.
10. A one-off cash aid of RM500 to Covid-19 patients, and RM1,000 to beneficiaries of those who have died.
The amount allocated for this is RM300,000.
11. Special incentives of RM300 to frontliners from the local councils, involving 4,791 workers, costing RM1.4 million.
12. RM3.3 million to strengthen the frontliners working in federal agencies and departments.
A RM300 one off aid will be provided to each staff from the state Health Department, armed forces, police, public defence, Immigration and volunteer corps (Rela).
The special incentives involve 10,511 staff.
13. RM10 million for safety equipment including face masks, hand sanitisers, and infra-red thermometers.
Penang has ordered some six million face masks for the use of its residents.
14. Penang Business Continuity Zero Interest Loan within two categories: (1) a loan of RM5,000 for micro-entrepreneurs and (2) RM10,000 loan for small and medium entrepreneurs.
They will only be required to start paying back their loans after six months.
This incentive will cost the state some RM30 million.
15. RM30,000 - Special allocation and emergency funds for the 40 elected representatives (including the opposition), which amounts to RM1.2 million.
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