KOTA KINABALU: Those affected economically by the Covid-19 pandemic will continue to get the assistance they need, says Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
The Sabah Chief Minister said a total of RM210mil comprising RM160mil from the state and RM50mil in federal funds had been allocated for the state.
"From this RM160mil, we'll see over a million recipients benefiting through food baskets in enhanced MCO areas and families listed under the e-Kasih, one-off payments for targeted B40 groups, orphans, disabled people, single mothers, public transport drivers, lorry drivers, and university students," he said.
Hajiji said rents for the People's Housing Projects (PPR) and traders had been waived.
As for the RM50mil federal funds, this would be used to pay for accommodation and food for frontliners, transportation, purchase of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and to facilitate the needs in quarantine and treatment centres for Covid-19.
He said this during a question and answer session at the state assembly sitting here, Monday (Nov 16).
The Sulaman assemblyman who is also state Finance Minister, said those who might not have received aid or did not get enough, will have their problems seen to.
Hajiji said as of Nov 15, Sabah still had a total of 2,404 Covid-19 patients in various treatment centres while the cumulative number of Covid-19 positive patients was 23,095.
"A total of 171 people have died due to the virus," he said.
On another matter, he stated that 12 localities remain under the enhanced MCO in Sabah.
These localities include three areas in Kota Kinabalu (Kepayan Prison, Matambai Prison quarters and Kota Kinabalu Temporary Detention Centre) and three in Sandakan (Sandakan Prison, Taman Wira Sandakan prison quarters and Taman Mesra).
Lahad Datu has two localities (Anjung Teduh Felda Sahabat and Kg Sabah Baru), one in Tawau (Tawau Temporary Detention Centre) and three in Kudat (Kg Tg Kapor, Kg Pengaraban and Kg Landung Ayang).
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Bung Moktar Radin pledged to solve Sabah's water and electricity problems within five years.
"In Sabah, non-revenue water losses amount to RM300mil. Give me some time, I will solve these problems within these five years," he said when answering questions on the measures being taken to solve water woes in Tawau and Sandakan.
He said the same applied for electricity where the Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd was only seeing losses instead of making money.
"People have chosen the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government and we will do our job. Everyone deserves access to water and electricity," he said.
To questions from DAP's Phoong Jin Zhe (Luyang) on measures to assist small and medium entrepreneurs in Sabah affected by the pandemic, State Industrial Development Minister Datuk Joachim Gunsalam said various packages had been introduced to help these groups.
He said apart from existing assistance initiatives, the state government had launched the Sabah New Deal to revive the economy.
"RM20mil has been allocated for micro and cottage enterprises," he said.
Joachim said collaborations with agencies, associations and even smart partnerships with business entities were also made to help in this sense.
"We also hold courses, workshops and training to help the affected industries recover and adapt," he said.
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