By Zareef Muzammil
GOMBAK, Aug 21 — The state government has received more than 8,000 applications for the Roda Darul Ehsan Initiative (RiDE) since registration was opened early this year, says Selangor Menteri Besar.
Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said the applications will be reviewed to find eligible applicants who complied with the programme’s criteria that include being open only to individuals aged 40 and below.
“Certain conditions such as that the applicant must be under 40 years old was set because this initiative aims to help e-hailing riders, of which the majority are from the younger generation.
“Successful applicants will receive financial assistance amounting to RM500 because many have already acquired motorcycle licenses,” he said after handing over the cash initiative to 50 participants at the Dewan Rakyat Batu Caves here today.
At the event, Amirudin, who is also Sungai Tua assemblyman, handed over a mock cheque amounting to RM2 million to the state executive councillor for youth and sports, Mohd Khairuddin Othman, to symbolise the implementation of the RiDE programme for this year.
He said the programme will be improved from time to time in accordance with the growth of the e-commerce industry that is getting encouraging responses from the youth.
“At the initial stage of this programme, we helped in terms of (getting them) licenses but apparently it (their licenses) has been completed at the early stages, so now we are giving financial assistance because the economy has yet to recover from Covid-19.
“Next year, maybe we will review the format, because e-commerce business is growing, to not only involving the delivery of food but also goods. So, we need to discuss with the e-hailing operators, (to check) if maybe they have an additional need,” he said.
The 2021 Selangor Budget had allocated a total of RM2 million for the programme, targeting an estimated 3,000 participants.
The RiDE application is open from January to December 2021 via msnselangor.gov.my.