IPOH: The Perak government is reviewing whether to table a supplementary budget focusing on food security, targeted assistance and cost-of-living support in view of the Middle East crisis.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the state is currently assessing all needs before making a decision to address multiple issues simultaneously.
He said drawing on experience from the Covid-19 pandemic, the state previously managed crises through budget realignment rather than a supplementary budget.
“A similar approach may be adopted unless the situation becomes critical and requires additional spending, in which case a special session may be convened,” he said when replying to Nga Kor Ming (PH-Kepayang) at the state assembly sitting on Wednesday (April 15).
Nga had asked whether the state would convene a special sitting to table a supplementary budget given the global crisis and federal initiatives like Budi Madani.
Saarani said the state is providing assistance to vulnerable groups facing economic pressure and enhancing welfare support for M40 and B40 households in addition to federal aid.
“At the state level, we want to ensure that the people are not affected to the extent of facing shortages of essential food items. Under the Perak Sejahtera 2030 plan, food security was made one of the key agendas.
“We encouraged the concept of ‘grow what you eat, eat what you grow and sell the surplus’ so that the people of Perak do not rely excessively on imported food sources,” he said, adding that the aim is to position Perak as a food-producing state.
Saarani said the state would avoid speculative assumptions and instead carefully assess real-time implications.
Addressing the cost of living, he noted that various schemes are already in place, including monthly welfare aid, Perak Prihatin, food basket assistance and subsidised sales programmes.
“Rising costs also affect logistics and if necessary, the state government may provide subsidies to transport operators to ensure that subsidised goods continue to be distributed,” he added.
On foreign investment, Saarani said Perak continues to record stable performance despite global economic uncertainties. He noted that no major investments had been cancelled and existing projects were progressing as planned.
