SHAH ALAM, Nov 11 — Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari tabled the 2024 Selangor Budget yesterday, with a RM2.53 billion allocation for management and development expenditures.
With the theme ‘Independent Selangor: Driving Progress, Fostering Unity,’ the state budget outlined four core thrusts, namely to drive quality investments and generate high income; promote smart education and ensure a sustainable environment; safeguard the welfare of the people, and fostering unity within the ‘ummah’.
Here are some key highlights offered to the people of Selangor:
Special Financial Aid
- Incentive of two and a half months’ salary for state civil servants.
High-value Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme
- RM1 million to establish the Selangor Skills and Jobs Council.
- Offer 100,000 high-paying job opportunities in the fields of food and beverage, electrical and electronics, life sciences, transportation, machinery, and equipment.
Public Transportation
- RM3 million to develop the Kita Selangor Rail network from Klang to Kuala Selangor, Tanjong Karang, and Sabak Bernam.
- Expand the on-demand transit van services (DRT) in all local government areas.
Roads and Infrastructure
- RM145 million to improve road networks implement major road maintenance projects, as well as install street lights and traffic lights.
[caption id="attachment_315219" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Infrasel Sdn Bhd personnel carrying out road resurfacing works along Jalan Persiaran Elmina 1/1, Kuala Selangor, on June 11, 2023. — Picture via FACEBOOK/INFRASEL[/caption]
Rural Infrastructure
- RM4 million to upgrade dilapidated infrastructure, including community halls and public halls.
Free broadband coverage.
Food Security
- RM40 million to stockpile food (rice, fish, meat) in facing climate change.
- Diversify food supplies (coconut, rice, bananas) to reduce external imports.
Empower of Women Entrepreneurs
- RM3.3 million to strengthen the Women Entrepreneurs League for business startups, financial management, marketing, and product placement.
Free Tuition Programme
- RM10 million to target 200,000 students to join the Selangor People’s Tuition Programme within five years.
Education Funds
- RM3 million to implement the Selangor Higher Education Institution Study Award (RM1,000 for Level 4 skills certificate, diploma, bachelor’s degree).
- RM9 million to continue the scholarship fund to assist students in furthering their studies locally and internationally.
Public Health
- RM35 million for 100,000 Iltizam Selangor Sihat policyholders to receive basic medical treatment and annual vaccinations of RM500 per family and RM250 per individual.
- Hospitalisation benefits of up to RM10,000 per year, with RM5,000 for critical illnesses and natural deaths each.
- Bantuan Sihat Selangor up to RM5,000 for the less fortunate to cover dialysis costs, cataract surgeries, and cancer treatments.
- Up to RM5,000 aid for heart treatments.
- RM1.5 million to cover basic clinical treatments, deaths, permanent disabilities, critical illnesses, and funeral expenses for civil servants.
- RM3.2 million for the Selangor Saring programme, including cancer screenings.
[caption id="attachment_272581" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Healthcare personnel drawing blood from Selangor Saring participants during the programme at Grand Sabak Hotel, Sabak Bernam, on May 28, 2022. — Picture by AHMAD ZAKKI JILAN/SELANGORKINI[/caption]
Housing
- RM220 million for the Smart Rent Scheme targeting 810 units.
- RM200,000 to resolve long-occupied strata ownership issues in apartments.
- RM300,000 to rehabilitate public housing projects.
Assistance for Nurseries, Kindergartens, and Special-Needs Children
- RM100 monthly subsidy for nursery fees and RM50 per month for kindergarten expenses.
- RM500 savings in the National Education Savings Scheme (SSPN) Prime for five years for 30,000 children born from 2022 onwards.
- RM1 million for the Selangor Special Needs Children (AnIS) initiative.
Welfare Assistance
- Bantuan Kehidupan Sejahtera Selang (Bingkas) for 30,000 families to buy basic goods (RM300 monthly).
- RM2.1 million to assist traders in buying equipment and machinery (Blueprint programme).
- RM16.48 million allocated for Jom Shopping vouchers for 82,400 households earning below RM3,000 per month.
- RM2 million to assist B40 in homeownership.
- RM37.5 million for Skim Mesra Usia Emas dan Skim Mesra Insan Istimewa (RM150 shopping vouchers and RM500 death benefits).
Legal Aid Fund
- RM3,000 subsidy for each case for households with incomes up to RM5,000
Women and Family
- RM4 million for women’s activities and programmes.
- Continuation of the Empowered Women Selangor Scholarship.
Islamic Affairs
- Quran and Fardhu Ain Integration Class (Kafai) fee subsidies.
- RM5 million for the RM30 monthly aid for parents paying Kafai fees in full.
- Muassasah Haj Incentive.
- RM3 million allocated for pocket money Hajj pilgrims (RM500 per person).
[caption id="attachment_215924" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Muslims pray at the Grand Mosque during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in their holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on August 8, 2019. — Picture by REUTERS[/caption]
