RM120M TO STRENGTHEN PENANG SLOPES
CM announces half-month bonus for Penang civil servants, plan for more green parks
THE Penang government has announced a RM120 million allocation to strengthen the state’s slopes in light of the recent Bukit Kukus landslide, which claimed nine lives.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said flooding problems in the state would also be addressed.
He said the state would create more green parks.
He said on top of the 16.5ha Gurney Whaft project, the state government hoped to have the longest public park, connecting Padang Kota to clan jetties, with an estimated cost of RM100 million for the first phase.
“We have planted 363,655 trees on the island and 255,315 trees on the mainland over the past 10 years.
“Another 100,000 will be added over the next five years,” he said in his inaugural 2019 Budget speech at the state legislative assembly yesterday.
He also announced a halfmonth bonus, or a minimum of RM1,000, for civil servants in the state.
He said the bonus would be disbursed next month.
“Some 3,915 civil servants will be paid the half-month bonus, or a minimum of RM1,000.
“A sum of RM5.23 million has been set aside for it,” he said, adding that he thanked civil servants for their services.
Chow said 1,590 supervisors and Kafa (religious) teachers, 270 Sekolah Rendah Agama Rakyat teachers, 182 Sekolah Menengah Agama Rakyat teachers, as well as 572 teachers and employees of private Chinese schools would receive RM300 each.
He said 240 tahfiz, pondok and Islamic kindergarten teachers would receive RM200 each.