ALOR STAR – Kedah has become the first state in Malaysia to announce a month-long moratorium for all tenants of state-owned businesses and residential premises.
Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said, apart from the moratorium, the state government is also providing 15,000 food baskets to be distributed to those in need across Kedah.
“The distribution process also involves 6,000 food baskets from the Welfare Department that will be distributed with the help of elected representatives.
“The state government has also decided to provide RM50,000 to each district for special needs expenses, such as to buy baby milk and diapers," he told a virtual press conference today.
To reduce the burden on small traders, Sanusi said the state government will provide interest-free loans to the group, with a maximum of RM5,000 for each loan.
He said the state secretary has also approved a RM10,000 food fund for volunteer workers in every district over the next two weeks.
“A total of RM2.89 million is allocated for the provision of food baskets and RM500,000 for the moratorium on state government premises.
“The state government is also expected to lose revenue sources amounting to RM10.8 million due to the closure of counters for two weeks," he said.
Sanusi said the government will also make Dewan Al Farabi at Jalan Stadium a new Covid-19 treatment centre to ease congestion at hospitals.
Currently, he said the use of beds to treat Covid-19 patients has reached 93% capacity, and 86% in intensive care units.
“All hospitals in Kedah have now been converted into Covid-19 hospitals... to accommodate the growing number of Covid-19 patients.
“Besides that, we are also negotiating with Hotel Raiya to make one of its halls a Covid-19 low-risk quarantine and treatment centre (PKRC)," he said.
Sanusi said the state government, alongside private clinics and laboratories, will fund targeted Covid-19 screening tests more proactively.
He said through this effort, screening is expected to increase to between 200 and 300 tests a day, at a cost of up to RM400,000 for two weeks.
Today, Kedah recorded 464 new Covid-19 cases. – The Vibes, May 31, 2021
