GEORGE TOWN, Aug 27 — The Penang government has allocated an additional RM4.5 million under the Penang People’s Aid Package 2.1 to benefit six target groups during the Movement Control Order (MCO).
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the financial aid was to help streamline the target groups’ respective cash flow as well as to reduce the sectors’ operational costs during the recovery stage of the MCO.
He said the fund includes the provision of agricultural input incentives worth RM400 to 1,142 farmers registered with the Department of Agriculture, tallying up to RM456,800.
“The state government through the Department of Agriculture will distribute to farmers the agricultural input incentives such as enriched organic fertilisers or crop seeds to cultivate vegetables, non-seasonal fruits, cash and industrial crops that are directly affected by the spread of COVID-19,” he told a press conference here yesterday.
The Chief Minister also said that 1,771 registered non-Muslims houses of worship in Penang would also be receiving one-off special cash assistance of RM1,000.
He said the state will also distribute a one-off RM500 special cash assistance to book and newspaper sellers, school canteens traders, event management companies, as well as active organisations and associations registered with the Registrar of Society.
Applications for the people’s aid package can be made via the state government’s official portal at www.penang.gov.my starting Aug 28, he added.
