SHAH ALAM, June 9 — Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari has today revealed a total allocation of RM551.56 million for the Kita Selangor Package 2.0, which will benefit some 1.6 million people in the state affected by the enforced full movement control order (MCO).
Themed ‘Moving Together towards Success’ (Bersama-sama Menuju Kejayaan), the Selangor Menteri Besar said the package, which is part of the state’s continuous effort to cushion the social and economic impact from the Covid-19 pandemic, consists of three strategies covering 25 programmes.
He said the three strategies are namely caring for the people’s welfare and survival, saving the industry, economic sectors, and entrepreneurs in Selangor, and execution of health control to curb the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.
Some of the initiatives tabled in the package include death benefit aid to the next of kin of Covid-19 patients in Selangor who have succumbed to the infection, an internet scheme for the middle 40 group (M40), and the third phase of free mass screening.
“The state government has pledged to continue implementing various initiatives and programmes to help the people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Therefore, today, in line with the commitment to safeguard the welfare and survival of the Selangor people, ensure economic and business sustainability and health control to curb the spread of Covid-19, the state government introduces the Kita Selangor Package 2.0.
Amirudin said the policies introduced during the pandemic has given a good short-term impact as well as a long-term investment for the state while also benefiting the people from other states that are residing in Selangor.
“The state government has formulated several aid packages and economic stimulus packages. These efforts were not executed merely to become populist or contrarian. The policies that we have worked on are for the good of the people and Selangor,” he said.
Amirudin said that the government needs to set a benchmark, inspire and bring hope to help the people in facing the challenges of the pandemic.
“We don’t mean to brag or be arrogant, but oftentimes I hear some people would praise Selangor in proactively tackling the outbreak and strive in strengthening the state’s economy, such as the community screening initiative, which has involved 117,314 people as of yesterday.
“This effort was initially underestimated by some parties, but we continued on because we are not careless when formulating a policy. We are confident because it is based on science and facts,” said Amirudin.
In March last year, the state administration announced the Selangor Prihatin economic stimulus package worth RM127.78 million followed by the second phase on April 1 worth RM272 million.
The state’s economic recovery plan of RM55.8 billion in economic value was tabled on July 13 last year, followed by the Kita Selangor Package amounting to 73.8 million, which was announced on January 20 this year.