ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johor government has allocated an additional RM11.1mil for all assemblymen and state constituency special coordination committees (JPKD) to help the rakyat hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic.
During the state assembly meeting held at Bangunan Sultan Ismail here yesterday, Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad announced an extra RM150,000 for each of the 56 assemblymen and RM100,000 for the 27 JPKD.
“The assemblymen have made a request for a further allocation from what has been provided to them by the state government in an effort to help the rakyat.
“I hope that this additional allocation can be used for the community’s welfare in your respective constituency,” he added.
Hasni was replying a query from Chew Chong Sin (PH-Mengkibol), Abd Taib Abu Bakar (BN-Machap), Khairuddin A. Rahim (PH-Senggarang), Datuk Othman Yusof (BN-Kukup), Tan Chen Choon (PH-Jementah) and Aminolhuda Hassan (PH-Parit Ya’ani).
This is the fourth time Hasni has announced an allocation for assemblymen to better assist those affected by hardship because of the pandemic.
Last month, the state government allotted RM4.15mil to all assemblymen and JPKD, with each of them receiving RM50,000.
In the first state economic stimulus package, the government gave all 56 assemblymen RM20,000 each.
Last year, the state government tripled the allocations for assemblymen to RM150,000 from RM50,000 under Johor Budget 2021.
Meanwhile, Hasni said the state’s economy is projected to grow by 3%-5% based on a projection on the national level that has been updated by Bank Negara, which is about 3%-4%.
“Johor’s economy remains on track for recovery this year driven by an increasing vaccination rate, which will allow the state to move into phases under the National Recovery Plan.
“Therefore, the reopening of economic sectors in phases will gradually enable the recovery of household income and businesses.
“In fact, Johor Ihsan’s economic stimulus (PRE) 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 packages have successfully provided cash flow support, especially to those affected,” he added.
On another matter, Hasni, who is the Benut assemblyman, said that based on the financial statement as of Aug 17, Johor’s financial position is at a stable level with the state reserves standing at RM1.38bil.
