ISKANDAR PUTERI – Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has agreed to issue a RM30 million special grant to ease the burden of vulnerable groups in the state affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
This was announced by Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad when winding up the debate on Johor Budget 2021 at the state assembly sitting here today.
Hasni also said that all 56 Johor state assemblymen will each receive an additional allocation of RM50,000 on a one-off basis.
He said the money was given after the Johor government realised that issues related to Covid-19 were becoming more serious.
“In this case, no one deserves to claim to be ‘heroes’ in empowering the democratic system.
“I think that whoever the government is, it is their duty to strengthen democracy and always be guided by its ideals,” he said.
On the proposal to have assemblymen’s allowances cut and channelled to the Johor disaster fund, Hasni felt that the Johor government should be more realistic and consider the long-term impact of decisions made.
He said it was not a matter of shirking responsibilities but rather learning from past examples, adding that he does not want the state leaders to be blamed later for any (wrong) decisions made.
“I appreciate the proposal presented. However, contributions for the state disaster fund should not be motivated by attracting the people’s sympathy or ending up as rhetorics alone.
“I hope the issue of salary deductions and allowances is not politicised. In my opinion, sincerity in donating or ‘berinfaq’ is better than being forced to donate. Let the right hand give without being known by the left hand,” he said.
To date, RM32.3 million has been collected for the fund so far, he said.
He said of that total, RM28.8 million was spent on equipment for frontliners, basic food aid, equipment at quarantine centres and so on. – Bernama, December 6, 2020
