SEREMBAN: A monthly pension of RM500 for every senior citizen aged 65 and above is one of five pledges by Parti Sosialis Malaysia's sole candidate S. Tinagaran in his manifesto for the Negri Sembilan polls.
Popularly known as Cikgu Tina, the 49-year-old candidate for Rahang said the state government should provide monthly cash assistance to all seniors except government pensioners to allow them to offset the rising cost of living.
"The state government always makes it known that it has increased savings to RM1.3bil and received a record amount in new investments last year.
"If we are so prosperous, why can't we assist the senior citizens with some monthly cash so that they can live in comfort?" he said when launching his manifesto at the state PSM office here on Tuesday (July 21).
Cikgu Tina said the state government currently gives seniors a token of RM200 a year but this was grossly insufficient.
"Based on media reports, the state government is projected to collect RM18mil in revenue from its first phase of rare earth element mining.
"Why can't we use this income to help the senior citizens?"
In his manifesto, he also pledged to set up a one-stop centre at his office to assist workers with work-related problems.
"I will also set up a system to provide online advice on a pro bono basis and help them with any cases at the Industrial Court," he said.
Community consultative councils will also be set up in selected residential areas, including villages, to monitor work carried out by local councils, he added.
He said this was important as Rahang was a rapidly developing area but many residents still faced various basic problems that called for immediate and effective solutions.
Cikgu Tina said he would also help raise issues related to flooding and the need for a proper drainage system; establish free tuition centres for children in the B40 category; improve public transportation services; and have proper public sports facilities in the area.
In the Aug 1 election, Cikgu Tina will be up against Pakatan Harapan's incumbent Siau Meow Kong, Barisan Nasional's Yap Siok Moy and Bersatu's Tang Jay Son.
In the August 2023 state election, Siau won the seat in a straight fight against Perikatan Nasional's Lee Boon Shian with a 6,432-vote majority.
There are 19,715 voters in the constituency.
