Penang to give bonus, waive assessment rates to tackle rising cost of living
Due to rising cost of living and year-end expenditure, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today announced a half-month bonus, with a minimum of RM700, for civil servants in the state next month.
He said the half-month bonus or special monetary fund amounting to RM5.2 million would also be extended to supervisors and religious teachers, teachers in public religious schools, and secondary religious schools.
Teachers and staff in private Chinese schools will be accorded RM300 each, and RM200 will be given to al-Quran recital teachers, religious tutors and Islamic kindergarten teachers.
Tabling the Budget 2016, which saw a 11.36% rise to RM1.1 billion from this year, Lim said the state and local councils would absorb the goods and services tax (GST) totalling RM19.36 million next year.
The state is also waiving RM11.5 million worth of assessment from low-cost and low-medium cost house owners, he said.
“The Penang Island City Council is expected to absorb RM2.8 million and RM3.4 million worth of assessment fees from low-cost and low-medium cost units, or a total of RM6.2 million, respectively.
“Seberang Perai Municipal Council will waive assessments worth RM5 million and RM327,141 for low cost and low-medium cost units, or a total of RM5.2 million, respectively.”
The deficit budget, themed “Inclusive growth and sustainable development” was tabled for the eighth time with RM979.53 million, an increase of 10.4% from this year, set aside for operating expenses and RM346.12 million, higher by 53.44%, for development expenses.
Meanwhile, Lim said the state approved an additional 10 hectare land in Bayan Bay for mixed development for Ideal Gim Ventures Sdn Bhd which would build 2,100 residential units on 4.77 hectare land.
“About 4.45 hectare of land is for government reserve and 0.8 hectare for infrastructure purposes. For this approval, the state government will receive an international status sports complex for public use.
“It will be a semi-covered velodrome, a 250m international bicycle track and three basketball and volleyball courts. There will also be an international style swimming pool and football field.”
In another instance, he said RM9.43 million has been approved to acquire land for a mosque, religious school and cemetery for Masjid Cherok To’Kun in Permatang Pauh.
The fund would also be used for the construction of a mosque, state and village road improvement, drainage and irrigation for flood mitigation, sports facilities and public amenities. – November 6, 2015.
Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/penang-to-give-bonus-waive-assessment-rates-to-tackle-rising-cost-of-living#sthash.A3nvQM9W.dpuf
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