By Karen Bong
KUCHING, May 28: Frontline workers in healthcare services, immigration, the police, Armed Forces, People’s Voluntary Corps (Rela), customs, local governments, Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) and Civil Defence Force (APM) will receive a monthly allowance between RM200 to RM300 for the next six months.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg announced that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government has extended the Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang (BKSS) 6.0 to sustain the livelihoods of people impacted by the Movement Control Order (MCO) and Enhanced MCO (EMCO).
“RM300 monthly allowance will be given to healthcare workers including medical doctors, nurses and medical officers who have worked tirelessly in hospitals, clinics and quarantine centres throughout Sarawak,” he said in a special press conference today.
A RM200 monthly allowance will be given to the rest of the frontline officers and staff serving in the Immigration Department, the police force, State Operation Room, the Armed Forces, Rela, Royal Malaysian Customs Department, local governments, Bomba and the APM.
“This will involve an expenditure of RM27 million,” he added.
BKSS 6.0, Abang Johari emphasised involved a total of 15 measures with nine measures involving cash incentives and six measures on discount incentives.
The 15 measures under BKSS 6.0 will incur an expenditure of RM1.4 billion on the Sarawak government including ongoing measures that have been taken to reduce the burden and assist the people in these trying times.
The State government, he reiterated, will continue to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of the people.
“Together with my colleagues in GPS, we will continue and are committed to work hard to serve our people,” he added.
Meanwhile, the GPS government had spent a total of RM3.1 billion in rolling out five BKSS packages since the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020 and the implementation of various phases of MCO so far. — DayakDaily
