IPOH: Until October this year, the Perak Water Board has spent nearly RM32mil on free water and bill rebates to ease the cost of living, says Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad (pic).
The Perak Mentri Besar said under the initiative, registered low-income and ultra-poor households receiving monthly aid from the Social Welfare Department (JKM), the Department of Orang Asli Development (Jakoa), or the Perak Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIPk) receive 25 cubic meters of free water per month, valued at RM20.40.
He said water usage below this threshold is free of charge.
“In addition, all domestic water account holders in Perak receive a RM4 monthly rebate.
“The state government continues to assess current needs, considering improvements to support the B40 community in both urban and rural areas.
“Expansion of the aid program depends on the state’s financial position and policy commitments, with efforts focused on fair, coordinated, and accurate distribution of assistance to the target groups,” he said in the state assembly sitting here on Friday (Nov 28).
He was replying to a question posed by Dr Najihatussalehah Ahmad (PN- Bota).
She had asked given that the Darul Ridzuan Institute’s study showed that food, housing, and utility bills were the main burden for the people of Perak, what strategies did the state government have to strengthen a more targeted social safety net in the 2026 Budget.
Saarani said the state government would continue its commitment by increasing allocations for JKM’s assistance from RM31mil to RM37mil, the Perak Sejahtera Card from RM24mil to RM24.5mil, and the Food Aid Program from RM5mil to RM6mil.
He said in addition, the state government has introduced a new allocation of RM3mil for the “Sayangi Rumahku” programme as a revolving fund under Yayasan Perak to assist with citizens’ housing needs.
