By Amar Shah Mohsen
SHAH ALAM, March 22 — The state government has announced a special cash incentive of one month’s salary, or a minimum of RM1,000, for its civil servants in conjunction with the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration.
Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said the Special Financial Assistance (BKK) will be paid on April 8, two days ahead of the festival, which is set to be celebrated on April 10.
He said this will set the state government back RM43.47 million.
“This is a show of our appreciation and serves as an encouragement for all of us to continue working as a strong, united team,” he said in his speech at the Mahabbah Ramadan Madani ceremony with state civil servants at the state administrative headquarters, here, today.
Amirudin said the one month bonus, or a minimum of a RM1,000 payment, will be given to all civil servants under the state administration as well as to Federal public servants who are serving in state departments.
Meanwhile, community leaders, namely the chairmen of the village community management councils (MPKK), Kampung Baru/Bagan/Tersusun liaison officers, Indian community heads and MPKK secretaries, as well as Wanita Berdaya Selangor and Selangor Youth Movement coordinators will receive a month’s worth of allowance.
He said the state government also agreed that a sum of RM500 in BKK payment be given to mosque officials, namely nazirs, imams, siaks and bilals, as well as religious community teachers.
Amirudin said the state is able to provide the assistance thanks to its impressive financial performance, particularly in the first quarter of this year, with a total of RM700 million in revenue collected to date.
He expressed confidence that Selangor would be able to achieve its target of RM2.2 billion in revenue for this year.
Amirudin also hinted at a possibly larger bonus payout at the end of this year if the state government continues its performance momentum.
“It’s my dream to give a total of three months’ bonus for this year. We have done it before. But we have to look at our performance later,” he said, adding that the state is also mulling implementing a performance-based bonus provision.
This year’s BKK is keeping with the state government’s tradition of providing a special incentive to civil servants in preparation of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Last year, a total of two-and-a-half months worth of salary was distributed to government servants in the state via three payments, involving a total financial implication of RM40.03 million.
The first and second payments of one month’s salary each were disbursed in April (Hari Raya) and December (year-end) 2023 respectively.
The remaining half month’s pay was distributed last month, in preparation for this year’s schooling session, which commenced earlier this month.
Meanwhile, Amirudin led the state civil servants to a minute of silence in remembrance of former Kuala Kubu Bharu assemblyman Lee Kee Hiong, who died yesterday aged 58 after a long battle with cancer.
“We lost a family member and a committed state assemblyman yesterday. As a sign of respect and to remember her contribution to Selangor, let’s observe a minute of silence,” he said.
