JOHOR BARU: The Johor government has agreed to allocate RM2.8mil in additional aid to all 56 assemblymen to help fight the Covid-19 pandemic in the state.
Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad (pic) admitted that managing the pandemic was a huge challenge and urged the state's elected representatives to help.
“I hope the MPs and assemblymen from Johor take part in advocacy programmes and help disseminate accurate and authentic information related to the government’s efforts to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.
“For that purpose, the state government has agreed to allocate additional aid of RM50,000 each to all assemblymen, ” he said in a statement after chairing a special virtual meeting with all state elected representatives including MPs here on Thursday (May 27).
This is the second time in less than a year that all 56 assemblymen in Johor received the RM50,000 allocation each to help deal with the pandemic.
The meeting was held following a decree by Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar last week (May 20) for the state government to hold a meeting involving all state MPs and assemblymen to find ways to curb the pandemic.
Hasni added that through the meeting, all elected representatives also unanimously agreed and supported the state government’s suggestion in strengthening the role of district officers, land district administrators and local council presidents in the effort to handle the Covid-19 pandemic, especially in the aspect of enforcement.
He urged all elected representatives to double their efforts in the battle against Covid-19 within their respective constituencies for the good of the people.
Hasni also said that the state government planned to provide another economic stimulus package to help ease the people’s burden in the state following the implementation of stricter movement control order due to spiralling Covid-19 cases.
“Various initiatives and aid have been channeled to help those affected and such efforts will be strengthened, ” he said, adding that the government would also be allocating RM10mil to its food basket programme.
Last year, the Johor state assembly approved the government’s stimulus economic package worth RM174.5mil to help its economy affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic, fall of oil prices and closure of the border.
Meanwhile, Hasni said in ensuring the vaccination process were carried out fast, safe and effective, the state government has taken several approaches, including working closely with the Health and, Science, Technology and Innovation ministries.
“We are working closely with relevant bodies for the process of getting vaccines including buying our own supply from Singapore.
“Besides that, the state has taken early steps of getting the vaccine supply under the ImmuPlan Johor and an additional supply of 100,000 doses for economic frontliners here, ”he added.
He stressed that as of Wednesday (May 26), a total of 85,849 applications have been received, of which 72,180 individuals met the criteria to be categorised as economic frontliners in Johor.
Keywords: Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad, frontliners, economic stimulus package, Covid-19
